U.S. troops have opened another of the smaller, neighborhood outposts that are the centerpiece of the monthslong Baghdad security plan, officials said Tuesday.

The newest outpost is in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Ameriya and will be manned mainly by troops from the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment.

It is the third such outpost that the battalion has created, including others in the Khadra district and in the northern section of Ameriya.

The base is intended to help the troops “aggressively target al-Qaida within the area to help the local Sunni population rid their neighborhood of insurgents,” a news release read.

Since the beginning of the troop “surge,” dozens of such small bases have been established in Baghdad and surrounding areas.

While the bases allow for more interaction with local residents and give a full-time military presence in areas not previously watched, some troops have also said that they are more prone to attack and pose greater security risks.

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