Note: The following text is an exact quote:
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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20051023.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
October 6, 2005
Release Number: 05-10-23
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IRAQI ARMY TAKES CONTROL OF FOUR BAGHDAD DISTRICTS
BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Iraqi Army reached another historic milestone when the 6th Iraqi Army Division took over authority of the Kharkh, Rusafa, Thawra and Adhamiyah districts of Baghdad from Task Force Baghdad during a ceremony at the Muthana Airfield Oct. 3.
Iraqi Army Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Mohammad Khalaf al-Shumali, 6th Iraqi Army Division commander, raised the division’s flag, signifying the assumption of authority and another step toward taking control of their own country.
During his speech, Mahmoud expressed confidence in his division and its ability to secure the Baghdad area.
“It is a great opportunity and a great event that we have been given the honor to receive responsibility of our units in these areas,” he said. “Our beloved Baghdad and its people should feel safe with our units responsible for their safety. We pledge to do our best to serve our people and to reconstruct our country.”
Maj. Gen. William G. Webster, Task Force Baghdad and 3rd Infantry Division commander, also participated in the ceremony and said he feels the transfer marks a significant chapter in the future of Iraq.
“Today is a great day for the Iraqi Army as the Baghdad Division assumes control of two of its brigades and begins to transition the security of Baghdad,” Webster said. “It signals that eventually the Iraqi Army will once again control the security of their country.”
The assumption of authority observance included drill and ceremony demonstrations by the 6th Iraqi Army Division., where Iraqi Army Soldiers marched past their commander on the reviewing stand.
“You can see in their eyes the pride that swells as these men take security of their own city,” Webster said. “We have been working hard to this day so the Iraqi Army can take control of this part of Baghdad. It’s a great step and will only strengthen the relationship between us.”
THIS STORY HAS ACCOMPANYING PHOTOGRAPHS. TO RECEIVE THE PHOTOS CONTACT TASK FORCE BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SGT. FIRST CLASS DAVID ABRAMS AT DAVID.ABRAMS@ID3.ARMY.MIL.
Cutlines:
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A parade of Iraqi Army Soldiers marches past the reviewing stand during an assumption of authority ceremony Oct. 3 at Muthana Airfield. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Del Rosario, Task Force Baghdad PAO)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- (left to right) Lt. Gen. John Vines, 18th Airborne Corps commander; Iraqi Army Lt. Gen. Daham Lasal, advisor to the minister of defense; Iraqi Army Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Mohammad Khalaf al-Shumali, 6th Iraqi Army Division commander; and Maj. Gen. William G. Webster, Task Force Baghdad commander, applaud marching Iraqi Army units during an assumption of authority ceremony Oct. 3. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Del Rosario, Task Force Baghdad PAO)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A 6th Iraqi Army Division Soldier renders honors during a assumption of authority ceremony Oct. 3 at Muthana Airfield. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Del Rosario, Task Force Baghdad PAO)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A 6th Iraqi Army Division tank rolls through as part of a parade during the assumption of authority ceremony Oct. 3. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Del Rosario, Task Force Baghdad PAO)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The 6th Iraqi Army Division band leads a parade of Iraqi Army Soldiers during the assumption of authority ceremony Oct. 3 at Muthana Airfield. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Del Rosario, Task Force Baghdad PAO)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi Army Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Mohammad Khalaf al-Shumali (left), 6th Iraqi Army Division commander, raises the division's flag as Maj. Gen. William G. Webster, Task Force Baghdad commander, observes during the assumption of authority ceremony Oct. 3. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Del Rosario, Task Force Baghdad PAO)
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Note: The following text is an exact quote:
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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20051024.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
October 6, 2005
Release Number: 05-10-24
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IRAQI, COALITION FORCES' SEPTEMBER WEAPONS HAUL IN BAGHDAD BIGGEST SINCE MAY
BAGHDAD, Iraq — During combat operations to crack down on terrorist cells and their support networks in and around Baghdad, Iraqi and Coalition Forces seized 31 weapons caches in September, making it the largest monthly haul since 54 caches were seized in May.
On one occasion, Iraqi Police and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers patrolling together in the Mansour district of central Baghdad came under machine gun fire from terrorists hiding in a building Sept. 21.
Iraqi Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, also working in the area, went to assist the combined patrol while U.S. attack helicopters flew in to provide air support. When the firing stopped, the Iraqi Soldiers stormed inside the building and found a weapons cache containing rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms ammunition.
The Soldiers found 35 mortar rounds and rockets, one mortar tube, 27 RPGs, three roadside bombs, and five cell phones. Five terrorists were killed by Iraqi Forces during the firefight.
Soldiers often discovered the caches after local residents, weary of terrorist violence in their neighborhoods, told them where weapons were hidden. An Iraqi citizen’s tip helped Iraqi Army Soldiers seize two terror suspects and an Anti-Iraqi Forces weapons cache in an operation Sept. 24.
Iraqi Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division planned and conducted the entire mission. The weapons cache the Iraqi Soldiers discovered consisted of 84 mortar rounds and one mortar tube, five rockets, six anti-rockets, three RPG launchers with 18 RPGs, and a bag of small-arms ammunition.
A few days earlier on Sept. 17, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, 48th Brigade Combat Team patrolling in the Radwiniyah area of west Baghdad found one of the larger caches of the month after local citizens told them about a field of buried weapons. The unit uncovered the cache, then expanded the search and found two more stockpiles of weapons and ammunition in the same area.
The two caches contained 63 RPG rounds, 23 RPG motors, 904 RPG fuses and primers, 33 rockets, 35 mortar rounds, two mortar firing tubes, 80 mortar fuses and five crates of TNT. One terror suspect was captured at the site and taken into custody for questioning.
Just over a week later, on Sept. 25, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers, acting on another tip from an Iraqi citizen, seized an even larger weapons cache hidden in west Baghdad.
Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, discovered 85 mortar rounds, 14 rockets, two artillery rounds and three mortar tubes at the cache site. The cache also contained eight RPG launchers with 144 RPGs and 30 RPG chargers, three anti-tank weapons, 20 hand grenades, bomb-making materials, two machine guns, two assault rifles and 75 pounds of ammunition.
On another occasion, Coalition Forces patrolling on foot in the Radwiniyah district Sept. 28 were approached by an Iraqi citizen who told the unit about another large weapons cache. When the Soldiers investigated, they found 175 sticks of dynamite, 109 grenades, 149 rockets, mortar and artillery rounds, two rocket launchers, 46 anti-personnel mines and 20 pounds of TNT.
NOTE: The text above is compiled from information contained in several press releases already released throughout September 2005.
THIS STORY HAS ACCOMPANYING PHOTOGRAPHS. TO RECEIVE THE PHOTOS CONTACT THE TASK FORCE BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT DAVID.ABRAMS@ID3.ARMY.MIL.
CUTLINES:
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Munitions found in one of 31 weapons caches seized by Task Force Baghdad Soldiers in the month of September 2005. The 31 caches are the most discovered in a single month since 54 were uncovered in May 2005.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Task Force Baghdad Soldiers guard a stockpile of weapons in the Radwiniyah area Sept. 17. It was one of 31 weapons caches seized by Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers in the month of September.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE CONTACT TASK FORCE BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AT DAVID.ABRAMS@ID3.ARMY.MIL.
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