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
November 20, 2003
Release Number: 03-11-36
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION CONTINUES TO UNCOVER CACHES
AR RAMADI, Iraq - 82nd Airborne Division, also know as Task Force "All American," conducted missions over the past 24-hours focused on defeating former regime loyalists, criminals, and terrorists and assisting to re-establish a safe and secure environment.
The 82d Abn. Div. has conducted three offensive operations, all of which were cordon and searches. Soldiers also carried out 167 patrols, including eight joint patrols with the Iraqi Border Guard and Iraqi Police, manned 47 observation posts along Highway 10. During this time, one enemy personnel was wounded and 78 were captured.
Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment conducted an air assault cordon and search northeast of Fallujah last night. The operation resulted in the capture of 37 enemy personnel. In addition to the captured personnel, the paratroopers confiscated numerous small arms weapons, Jordanian and Syrian currency, fake identification cards, radios, and Thuraya phones. All of the individuals are being held for further investigation.
Early this morning, soldiers from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry captured 16 enemy personnel as they attempted to emplace numerous improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The enemy personnel had in their possession IEDs, mortar systems, mortar rounds, RPGs, and grenades. During questioning, one of the individuals provided information on additional caches. The information provided by the local Iraqi proved to be a big find for U.S. forces. Soldiers immediately searched the area and confiscated four 60mm mortars, eight machine guns, 21 AK-47s, one assault rifle, 34 PG-7 rounds, 29 artillery rounds of various sizes, several crates of grenades, 28 prepared IEDs, over 13,000 rounds of ammunition, and various other munitions.
Yesterday evening in Ar Ramadi, soldiers from 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment discovered a cache in a field. They found 32 120mm rounds, 286 82mm mortar rounds, 77 60mm mortar rounds, 28 RPGs, HEAT rounds, two heavy machine guns, demolitions, and over 1500 82mm mortar propellant charges. Engineers and Explosive Ordnance Detachment teams evacuated and destroyed all contents of the cache.
The civil affairs teams met with the Babil Council Governing Coordinator of the Iraqi Reconstruction Development Council today to assist the creation of a district council in Mahmudiyah. The purpose of the meeting was to examine the Baghdad Citizens Handbook and use it as a guide in running a council meeting and integrating local leaders. In Habbaniyah, Civil Affairs teams continue rehabilitating the regional police station. Rehabilitation efforts include the purchase of police uniforms and the reconstruction of two primary schools in the area. These projects will cost approximately $30,000. They continue training the fourth Iraqi Civil Defense Course class at the Navea Training Center with 165 recruits that will graduate tomorrow.
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Infantry Division, and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment remain committed to the destruction of enemy forces and assisting the peaceful Iraqi population in the recovery efforts. The capture of weapons and munitions within the past operations provides safer communities for the Al Anbar people.
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