Air Assault operation nets arms, missile caches
Army News Service
Release Date: 9/05/2003
MOSUL, IRAQ (Army News Service, Sept. 5, 2003) - The 101st Airborne Division demonstrated its operational reach Aug. 30 when it conducted raids in the western Iraqi desert, more than 450 kilometers southwest of the division's bases in northern Iraq.
"It was an impressive endeavor," said Maj. Gen David H. Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne. "Our soldiers did a wonderful job once again and demonstrated the Division's unique ability to rapidly project combat power over substantial distances to attack a time-sensitive target."
Intended to disrupt terrorist activities in west-central Iraq, the operation launched before dawn.
Four infantry companies and elements of an anti-tank company were air assaulted to five different locations to cordon and search several villages in an area centered about 50 kilometers north of Iraq's border with Saudi Arabia.
More than 1,000 soldiers of the division's 1st Brigade Combat Team participated in the operation, which also involved 98 of the division's attack, scout, assault, medevac, and heavy lift helicopters.
Though the operation did not result in the capture of the operation's primary targets, it did result in the detention of several individuals and the discovery and destruction of four substantial weapons caches.
The caches included 12 SA-7 surface-to-air missiles, 100 rocket propelled grenades, three mortar systems, more than 10,000 rounds of small arms and mortar ammunition, more than 100 anti-tank rockets and a variety of other arms and ammunition.
(Editor's note: a press release from the 101st Airborne Division's Public Affairs Office contributed to this story.)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
