Note: The following text is an exact quote:
===
http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20050811.txt
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
August 7, 2005
Release Number: 05-08-11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/11th ACR DESTROYS TERROR CELL, FINDS WEAPON CASHES
ABU GHRAIB, Iraq — In the 48 hours spanning Aug. 3 and 4, Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division conducted a series of raids to nab key planners of terrorist attacks and to seize weapons and bomb-making materials in Abu Ghraib, a western province of Baghdad.
The Soldiers captured four suspected terrorists, discovered five weapons caches, and confiscated more than $2,000 in U.S. currency.
Beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 3, Soldiers from B Troop, 1/11th ACR searched five locations in the Khandari district, where they detained one terrorist who positively identified three other members of his cell after he was captured.
The unit also unearthed two weapons caches shortly before midnight.
The first cache consisted of a mortar tube with more than 50 mortar rounds, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with two grenades and a sighting device, and a recoilless rifle with a tripod mount. The Soldiers also found 100 feet of detonation cord, 100 blasting caps and a videotape.
Twenty minutes later, the U.S. Soldiers found another weapons cache which contained $2,200 in U.S. currency, four hand grenades and a cell phone wired to a bomb detonation device.
The four terror suspects were taken into custody for questioning.
The first detainee also told the U.S. Soldiers about the location of an already-emplaced roadside bomb. A U.S. explosives ordnance disposal team located and destroyed the bomb.
Soldiers from 1/11th ACR carried out several missions to arrest terrorists and uncover their logistical bases in Abu Ghraib as part of Operation Thunder Cat, conducted by 256th BCT.
Since July, 1/11th ACR has uncovered more than five major cache sites and has arrested 28 terrorists working as part of terror cells conducting attacks against both Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces.
“The discovery of these caches and detainment of the individuals associated with it has dealt a serious blow to the terrorists operating in Abu Ghraib,” said Maj. Brian Robertson, squadron executive officer, from Wilkesboro, N.C. “This success is a direct result of the persistence and hard work of the troopers of Bravo Troop and 1/11th ACR.”
-30-
Note: The following text is an exact quote:
---
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2005/20050808_2370.html
Combined Coalition, Iraqi Operations Disrupt Terrorists
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2005 – Multinational Corps Iraq operations continue to place pressure on terrorist operations in Iraq, with coalition and Iraqi security forces conducting more than 182 combined and independent offensive operations throughout the country since late July.
Results from operations conducted between July 30 and Aug. 5 include the discovery and clearance of 109 improvised explosive devices and 32 caches; the capture of 805 insurgent fighters, with the subsequent detention of 493; and the death or capture of 11 foreign fighters.
"These are great successes for the coalition and Iraqi security forces. The terrorists' command and control will continue to deteriorate as the coalition forces continue to pressure terrorists and disrupt their operations network," Col. Jessie Farrington, MNCI chief of operations, said.
Highlights of operations from Aug. 6 and 7 include:
In Mosul, coalition forces detained two individuals for handing out terrorist propaganda. The two individuals revealed the location of their source and, during a resulting raid, Iraqi police killed one terrorist later confirmed to be a Syrian national. In a combined raid, coalition and Iraqi security forces captured three men connected to terror leader Abbass Fadhel Zangana.
Near Hit, Iraqi Intervention Forces and U.S. Marines captured three terrorists in a truck towing another vehicle modified as a car bomb.
In Haqlaniyah, coalition forces destroyed a booby-trapped house that contained improvised explosive devices.
In Baghdad, coalition forces captured a car bomb and four terrorists who were involved in a car-bomb cell. Iraqi forces captured ten members of a terrorist cell in Sadr City.
In other developments, Iraqi army soldiers and coalition forces captured suspected insurgents in a targeted search Aug. 7 in Rawah, Iraq, according to a Multinational Force Iraq report.
Elements of U.S. Army Task Force 2-14 and soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Intervention Force, detained four suspected insurgents during the operation. The suspects included one Syrian man, one Sudanese man, a former Rawah police officer, and a civilian. The Sudanese man was in possession of an expired passport.
In Fallujah, Iraqi army soldiers found and eliminated improvised explosive devices while conducting search operations Aug. 6, according to a MNFI report.
Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Intervention Force, discovered an IED while on a dismounted patrol. The IED consisted of one 130 mm artillery round enclosed in a white burlap bag with a car-alarm receiver, a washing machine timer, and a battery. The area was secured and the IED was disarmed and removed for later disposal.
Elsewhere, Iraqi army soldiers found IEDs in Rawah and Mugdadiyah. In Rawah, soldiers raided a building and found one 120 mm artillery round and two pounds of propellant. Two suspected insurgents were detained.
In Mugdadiyah, a patrol located one 155 mm artillery round and an unknown initiation device. An Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal team removed the IED.
No injuries or damages were reported during the operations.
In other news from Iraq, Iraqi security forces and coalition forces conducted a combined raid on a location known to be manufacturing car bombs Aug. 7 in Baghdad.
An Iraqi SWAT team and a coalition support unit discovered two vehicles in a carport partially wired as suicide car bombs. Both vehicles had holes cut in the dashboard exposing detonators with wire connections to the trunk and under the hood. Four male suspects were detained.
Elsewhere in Baghdad, Iraqi police and elements of the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, located a possible car bomb on a roadway. The dark blue, four-door sedan was secured, and the immediate area was cleared. An Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal team confirmed the presence of explosives and conducted a controlled detonation.
No injuries or damages were reported during the operations.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq news releases.)
Related Sites:
Multinational Force Iraq
Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq