Good News From Iraq

MND-B Soldiers find 2 large weapons caches

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers discovered two large weapons caches during a cordon operation south of Baghdad Tuesday night.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, discovered the first cache during the search of a building and the second cache in a grove adjacent to the building.

The caches consisted of two RPK machineguns, three PKM machineguns, a spare PKM machinegun barrel, 19 packages of PKM ammunition, five drums of PKM ammunition, seven AK-47s, 45 AK-47 magazines, eight AK-47 ammunition vests, a 60mm mortar system, seven 60mm mortars, 18 grenades, six grenade fuses, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a long-range rifle, 18 RPG rounds, 18 RPG boosters, 250 7.62mm rounds, 19 sticks of explosives and a shotgun.

An explosive ordnance disposal team conducted a controlled detonation of the explosives.

MND-B Soldiers find weapons, seize ammunition

Maj. David Olson

1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – A patrol from 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, found a weapons cache while conducting area reconnaissance west of Baghdad at approximately 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The Company A patrol seized six AK-47 assault rifles, 1,500 PKC machinegun rounds, three cases of 7.62mm rounds, 300 loose 7.62mm rounds, six AK-47 magazines, a hand grenade and a sniper scope.

Iraqi National Police, MND-B Soldiers raid Doura market, seize weapons, detain 3 terrorists

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Iraqi National policemen and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized weapons and detained three suspects during a cordon and search operation in Baghdad’s Doura market early Monday morning in south Baghdad as part of Operation Together Forward.

Policemen from 6th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, and MND-B Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, searched approximately 247 buildings during the 11-hour operation and found eight AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns, a shotgun and two AK-47 magazines.

The policemen and MND-B Soldiers also detained three suspects for questioning

Coalition forces capture wanted terrorist in Bayji

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces captured a wanted terrorist leader and detained six suspects during coordinated raids in Bayji Aug. 11.

The targeted individual is reported to be a new senior al-Qaida in Iraq leader in the Bayji terrorist network and a current standing member of the Bayji Mujahidin Shura Council. He is additionally reported to be supplying terrorists to al-Qaida in Baghdad to target innocent Iraqis.

The ground forces quickly secured the target areas and apprehended the individuals without incident.

This operation was part of ongoing efforts that have successfully captured several other terrorist leaders in Bayji in the last 30 days. Coalition forces will use information gathered from this raid to continue building a clear picture of the terrorist network in the region, and how best to capture or eliminate them.

Iraqi hostage freed

TIKRIT, Iraq – An Iraqi man being held hostage by unknown kidnappers was freed after Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers found him blindfolded and bound in the back of a vehicle near Baqubah Thursday morning.

The rescue occurred after the vehicle was spotted by a 101st Combat Aviation Brigade helicopter that was patrolling the area. The pilot noticed a suspicious gathering of people around the vehicle and reported the sighting.

A ground patrol attached to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division was sent to the area to investigate and found the man who claimed to have been kidnapped in Baqubah on Aug. 2.

The Soldiers treated the man for his injuries and provided him a cell phone to call his family before taking him to a nearby coalition base.

This is the second hostage rescue by Iraqi and Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers in the past two weeks. On July 30, Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers raiding a suspected terrorist weapons cache near Muqdadiyah freed another Iraqi man the day before he was to be “judged” by his kidnappers.

Kidnapping, whether for ransom, terror or propaganda use, continues to be a tactic of terrorists and criminals throughout Iraq. Teamwork between coalition forces and increasingly capable Iraqi security forces, with the help of local residents, is aimed at identifying and capturing these individuals.

Tip lines have been established in the Provincial Joint Communication Centers in Iraq’s northern provinces to allow residents to anonymously provide information about terrorist activity.

60 detained in raid in Arab Jabour

Baghdad-

Coalition forces detained 60 men suspected to be associated with terrorist activity during a raid in Arab Jabour, August 11.

The targeted individuals are believed associated with a senior al Qaida in Iraq leader in a cell that specializes in bomb making and VBIED attacks in Baghdad. The group has been reported to be planning and conducting training for future attacks like the attack in Mahmudiyah July 17 that killed 42 and injured 90 innocent Iraqis.

Multiple forms of credible intelligence led the assault force to the location, later determined to be a funeral gathering, where the suspects were detained.

Upon arrival, Coalition forces took steps to safeguard innocent civilians by separating woman and children from suspect individuals. The suspects were then detained without incident.

This operation was part of Iraqi and Coalition security efforts to eliminate terrorists and disrupt their operations throughout Iraq.

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