4ID AND TF IRONHORSE OPERATIONS UPDATE

	NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

March 4, 2004
Release Number: 04-03-06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4ID AND TF IRONHORSE OPERATIONS UPDATE

TIKRIT, Iraq - 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse conducted 196 patrols and four raids and captured 13 individuals Tuesday and Wednesday.

Twenty-eight of the patrols were joint operations conducted with the Iraqi police, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and Border Guard.

Weapons and equipment confiscated in raids and patrols throughout the Task Force Ironhorse area of operation include two AK-47 assault rifles, two machine guns, 370 mortar rounds, 85 fuses, 2,000 rounds of 14.5 mm antiaircraft ammunition, one rocket and four improvised explosive devices.

4th Infantry Division soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment conducted a raid Tuesday southwest of Abu Sayda. The raid was to capture an individual responsible for sniper attacks against coalition forces. The soldiers captured the individual along with two others, but discovered no weapons.

The Iraqi Police discovered an IED south of Baqubah Tuesday. The IED was a series of four partially buried 152 mm artillery rounds and was wired in a "daisy chain" for remote detonation. The police secured the area, and Iraqi Explosive Ordinance Detachment with Task Force Ironhorse soldiers from 558th Engineer Group disarmed the IED and removed it for later destruction.

Task Force Ironhorse aviators observed two individuals attempting to loot a weapons storage site Tuesday. The individuals were contained by the flight of OH-58D Kiowa Warriors until a combat patrol from 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment captured them. While on the scene, the soldiers discovered a cache of expended mortar rounds, 50 high-explosive mortar rounds and 21 mortar fuses. The cache was destroyed in place and the captured individuals were turned over to the Iraqi police.

A 4th Infantry Division, 4th Engineer Battalion combat patrol discovered a weapons cache west of Abu Shakur Tuesday. The soldiers secured 2,000 14.5 mm antiaircraft rounds and transported them to a secure location where explosive-ordnance-disposal personnel destroyed them.

4th Infantry Division aviators and soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team worked together using aircraft and a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle to observe six individuals attempting to emplace IEDs near Zaghiriyah Tuesday. An AH-64 Apache engaged the would-be attackers. Two individuals fled toward the town after the Apache broke contact. The TUAV provided surveillance over the site and observed one of the individuals who appeared to be wounded being helped into a vehicle by two others. Later the TUAV showed several individuals attempting to recover the remains of casualties from the site. An AC-130 gunship fired one round into the area and the individuals fled back to the town in vehicles. The TUAVs trailed the two vehicles to houses and soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment conducted a hasty raid on the residences. They captured five men, three of whom were wounded. One of the more seriously wounded was transported to the Baqubah hospital for treatment and is under guard by the Iraqi police. The others were taken to a nearby forward operating base for medical treatment and questioning.

4th Infantry Division soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment conducted a raid Tuesday southwest of Abu Sayda....to capture an individual responsible for sniper attacks against coalition forces. The soldiers captured the individual along with two others....

The Iraqi Police discovered an IED south of Baqubah Tuesday. The IED was a series of four partially buried 152 mm artillery rounds and was wired in a "daisy chain" for remote detonation. The police secured the area, and Iraqi Explosive Ordinance Detachment with Task Force Ironhorse soldiers from 558th Engineer Group disarmed the IED and removed it for later destruction.

A 4th Infantry Division, 4th Engineer Battalion combat patrol discovered a weapons cache west of Abu Shakur Tuesday. The soldiers secured 2,000 14.5 mm antiaircraft rounds and transported them to a secure location where explosive-ordnance-disposal personnel destroyed them.

4th Infantry Division aviators and soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team worked together using aircraft and a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle to observe six individuals attempting to emplace IEDs near Zaghiriyah Tuesday. An AH-64 Apache engaged the would-be attackers....The TUAV provided surveillance.... AC-130 gunship fired one round into the area and the individuals fled...TUAVs trailed the two vehicles to houses and soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment ...captured five men, three of whom were wounded....taken...for medical treatment and questioning.

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Fourth Infantry Division,
another bad day for the bad guys,

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