Good News From The War On Terror 3/25
BAGHDAD EAGLES AND COMMANDOS FIND NINE CACHES NEAR AL QAQAA WEAPONS FACILITY
MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — Iraqi and coalition forces detained 62 suspected terrorists, discovered four improvised explosive devices and found a massive weapons cache in the Mahmudiyah, Iraq area near the Al QaQaa Weapons Facility March 23.
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment’s advisory team, also of the 2nd BCT detained the suspected terrorists and found the weapons cache during Operation Eagle Dive, an operation intended to disrupt anti-Iraqi forces within the 2-15 FA area of operations.
During the operation, Soldiers discovered a series of small caches and consolidated it into one massive cache.
In the nine caches was
- 1 120mm mortar tube with a base plate
- 5 82mm mortar tubes
- 1 82mm base plate
- 3 82mm tripods,
- 1 60mm mortar system
- 1 mortar bore brush
- 30 boxes of mortar primers
- 70 loose mortar fuses
- 2 sniper rifles with scopes
- 9 155mm projectiles
- 122 82mm projectiles
- 1 105mm projectile
- 122 82mm projectiles
- 106 60mm projectiles
- 6 rocket-propelled grenade-7 systems
- 1 RPG scope
- 1 RPG night scope
- 55 RPG-7 rounds
- 7 RPG-9 rounds
- 15 boxes of PKC ammunition
- 18 AK-47s
- 10 pounds of unknown explosives
- 15 hand grenades
- Partial 14.5mm projectile
- 1 M-759 fuze
- 15 complete sets of Iraqi Army uniforms
- 20 feet of detonation cord
- 24 blasting caps
- 3 anti-aircraft platforms
- 2 anti-aircraft barrels
- 100 loose rounds
- 4 acetylene tanks
- 3 Motorola radios
- 1 8mm video tape
- Various medical supplies
- Various anti-Iraqi forces compact discs and religious paperwork.
“These caches are probably related to larger trafficking of arms throughout that area,” said Lt. Col. Frank Andrews, the 2nd BCT executive officer and native of Apex, N.C. “The IA uniforms found in the cache were likely to be used by the terrorist to intimidate local nationals in the area in an effort to discredit the Iraqi Army.”
The caches were destroyed during a controlled detonation conducted by an explosive ordnance disposal team.
Four improvised explosive devices were also discovered in the area along Route Jackson, one of the main routes leading into the Mahmudiyah area.
During the operation, Soldiers discovered two bodies of local nationals who appeared to have been executed.
The 68 detainees were taken to Patrol Base Mahmudiyah, Iraq for further questioning.
“This operation highlighted the competence of the extremely capable 4th Brigade., 6th Iraqi Army Division, who planned and executed it (the operation) with support from their partnered unit, 2-15 FAR,” Andrews added.
SUICIDE TRUCK BOMB CAPTURED IN RAMADI
RAMADI, IRAQ-Iraqi Police apprehended a suicide truck bomber and captured his vehicle, containing a large quantity of chlorine and explosives, when it failed to detonate in Ramadi March 23.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., a white cargo truck came to a halt near the entrance to the Jezeera police station, located about 150 meters from a water treatment plant. The police approached the truck for further investigation and detained the driver when they discovered the truck was rigged with explosives and the driver was attempting to detonate the vehicle.
Upon further investigation, the truck contained an unknown number of 55-gallon drums, which were used to camouflage five 1000-gallon barrels filled with chlorine and more than two tons of explosives.
The driver is being held for further questioning and all explosives were removed from the truck and destroyed by demolition experts.
COALITION FORCES REPEL ATTACK AT FB TILLMAN
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan – Coalition forces killed 12 insurgents near Fire Base Tillman in Paktika Province last night.
The 12 insurgents were engaged by Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces with small arms fire as the extremists attempted to stage an attack on the base, located along the Afghanistan and Pakistan border. Additionally, Coalition forces called in aviation support and indirect artillery fire to support the defense of the fire base.
Two Coalition soldiers and two ANSF members received minor injuries as a result of the hostile fire engagement. The Coalition forces injuries were treated at the scene, and they did not require further medical evacuation. One ANSF was medically evacuated for further treatment at a Coalition medical treatment facility, but is expected to fully recover from his wound.
“As the continued efforts of the military and civil leaders on both sides of the border takes a toll on (the) insurgents’ freedom of movement, they will continue to become more desperate as the people work with the military and other leaders to rid themselves of these criminals,” said Army Maj. Donald A. Korpi, a spokesman for the Task Force Fury.
