NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS 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 7, 2004 Release Number: 04-03-19 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Task Force Olympia detains nine, collects weapons in northern Iraq MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) under the operational control of Task Force Olympia detained personnel suspected of anticoalition activities and conducted ongoing weapons collection operations in northern Iraq Sunday. Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment conducted cordon-and-search operations in Sinjar and Buleyj and detained nine subjects suspected of anti-Coalition activities, including six suspected of planning attacks on Coalition forces. Members of the Coalition for Iraqi Unity, a concerned group of citizens in northwestern Iraq, approached 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment near Sinjar and turned in 36 high explosive rounds, 72 90 mm rounds, 199 rocket-propelled-grenade rounds, 11 RPG launchers, 279 60 mm mortar rounds, 162 82 mm mortar rounds, four 40 mm grenades, three mines, eight 115 mm rounds, four RPG night-vision devices, one 82 mm mortar tube and 500 14.5 mm rounds. A concerned Iraqi citizen approached 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment in the Mosul area and turned in a 60 mm mortar tube. Another concerned Iraqi citizen came to 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment headquarters in Tall Afar and turned in two 57 mm mortar rounds, 10 82 mm mortar rounds, 75 hand grenades, 24 RPG rounds and one RPG sight. In Mosul, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment found five 60 mm mortar rounds that were later removed by an explosive-ordnance-disposal team. A patrol from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment uncovered four 100 mm mortar rounds outside of Mosul. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi police or coalition forces or call the Tips Hotline at 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any coalition soldier or call the hotline at 813-343. TEXT FOR RELEASE AND OPSEC REVIEW PROVIDED BY: TASK FORCE OLYMPIA, MULTINATIONAL BRIGADE - NORTH PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT LT COL JOSEPH PIEK AT JOSEPH.PIEK@US.ARMY.MIL -30- |
