WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2004 -- Marines from the 1st Marine Division are, for the
second straight day, engaging several groups of insurgents on the outskirts of
Fallujah, Iraq.
Today's engagement began at about 4 p.m. when insurgent forces from within the
city fired small arms and mortars at Marines conducting security operations
near the city. Marines are countering these attacks with substantial and
proportionate ground fires, officials said.
Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division detained two anti-Iraqi force members
during an Oct. 21 raid near Tikrit. The raid was conducted based on information
that munitions were stored in the house. The two detainees were taken to a
coalition detention facility for questioning. Several weapons were confiscated,
including five rocket-propelled grenade launchers, an RPG round, an AK-47
assault rifle, a pistol, 26 AK-47 magazines, four 155 mm artillery rounds and
one 60 mm mortar base plate.
Four suspects were detained during an Oct. 21 raid in the town of Zab. The raid
was conducted to capture a known improvised-explosive-device manufacturer,
officials said. Task Force Danger soldiers found IED-making material and
detained the suspects. Three of the four tested positive for explosives, and an
explosives-sniffing military working dog alerted on the same three individuals.
The four suspects and the IED materials are being held at a coalition facility.
I hope they have TV, AC, popcorn, snacks and some games to play.