18 January 2004
Coalition Military Forces Find Large Weapons Caches in Iraq
82nd Airborne Division distributes humanitarian supplies
Coalition military forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq, in and around the town of Ramadi, seized two large weapons caches, detained 23 suspected enemy personnel, and distributed thousands of humanitarian items to Iraqis January 17, according to two news releases by Combined Joint Task Force 7.
The weapons caches were seized by Task Force "All-American," and included four SA-7 surface-to-air missiles. The humanitarian items, distributed by the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, included blankets, backpacks, first-aid kits and soccer balls.
Following are the two statements:
(begin text)
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE 7
Release 040118a
January 18, 2004
Large Weapons Cache Uncovered In Ar Ramadi, 23 Detained
RAMADI, Iraq -- Members of Task Force "All-American" conducted cordon-and-search missions in western Ramadi last night [January 17] to capture anti-Coalition forces identified in previous interrogations. In addition to the 23 personnel detained in the operations, two weapons caches, which were the largest found to date in Al Anbar province, were also captured.
At the first site, Coalition Forces found: three SA-7 missiles, 105 rocket-propelled grenades [RPG's], 125 RPG boosters, 16 RPG launchers, two RPG sights, two 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine guns with 3,000 rounds, one Belgian 7.62 mm machine gun, one MG-42 World War II German crew-served weapon, ten 10 7.62 mm machine guns with 18,800 rounds, two 7.62 mm sniper rifles, three spare 7.62 mm barrels, three 7.62 mm bipods, one .50 caliber machine gun with 700 rounds, three Russian RPK machine guns, 20,000 .22 caliber rounds, 500 .30 caliber rounds, 200 9 mm rounds, 2,300 5.56 mm rounds, 40 60 mm mortar rounds with two mortar tubes and four tripods, 15 82 mm mortar rounds with four mortar tubes, six fuses and three tripods, one mortar baseplate and two fragmentation grenades.
After searching the second site, Task Force "All-American" soldiers found: one SA-7 missile, 95 RPG's with 24 RPG launchers, 43 RPG motors and 7 RPG sights, 19 82 mm RPG adapters, one rifle-launched grenade, 152 60 mm mortar rounds with 16 tubes, two baseplates and two tripods, 145 82 mm mortar rounds with 149 fuses, 52 120 mm mortar rounds, 30 pounds of mortar zone charges, 46 37 mm projectiles, 29 57 mm rockets, 23 90 mm projectiles, three 107 mm Chinese rockets, two 100 mm artillery rounds, 17 155 mm artillery rounds, 12 anti-tank mines, 104 hand grenades, 24 hand grenade fuses, one flash grenade cartridge, one sniper rifle, four 7.62 mm machine guns, three AK-47's, 1,400 loose and 500 linked 7.62 mm rounds, 200 14.5 mm rounds, three smoke generators, 125 pounds of TNT [dynamite], 100 pounds of plastic explosives, 500 meters of detonation cord, 20 pounds of black powder, 71 blasting caps, 16 fuse igniters, six wick fuses, 25 pounds of propellant, five tank propellant charges, one flare gun with 20 flares, 20 white-star cluster flares, two pairs of binoculars, 10 radio-controlled transmitters and seven receivers.
The large caches were used by anti-Coalition forces to attack friendly soldiers and Iraqi people supporting the democratic changes. Since the capture of Saddam Hussein and Kahmis Sirhan, the cooperation of those who feared the return of the old regime are now free to assist Coalition Forces by providing information on the location of cache sites and anti-Coalition forces. This increased cooperation has led to the successful capture of key anti-Coalition personnel and more caches.
The recent capture of these personnel and the confiscation of these weapons will aide the soldiers of Task Force "All-American" in their pursuit of peace in the Al Anbar province. Task Force "All-American" will continue its operations in the Al Anbar province to help increase the safety and security for the people of Iraq.
(end text)
(begin text)
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE 7
Release 040118b
January 18, 2004
Task Force "All-American" Fights Poverty In AL Anbar
RAMADI, Iraq -- The 82nd Airborne Division and its subordinate units continued missions over the past 24 hours [January 17] to bring peace and prosperity to the residents of the Al Anbar province. Civil affairs personnel with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team delivered 2,000 blankets, 800 backpacks and 200 soccer balls to the Hateen Workers' Complex. The residents were surprised at the volume of support provided showing the concern for impoverished families living in the complex.
Civil affairs personnel with 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division monitored stipend payments to Iranian Kurds at the Al Tash refugee camp. Under the plan developed by the Al Anbar governor and civil affairs personnel, each family there will receive $20 each month from the Ministry of the Interior Refugee Committee. The rate is a significant increase from the previous amount of less than $1. Nearly 900 families will benefit from this change.
Sunday marked the initial distribution of 100 first aid bags out of more than 2,000 that will be provided to the Ar Ramadi fire department, Al Kabani village schools, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC), Force Protection Services (FPS), and Iraqi Police (IP).
Of the initial 100 distributed, 90 were delivered to the Ar Ramadi fire chief, Captain. Jatha, and ten 10 were delivered to the Al Kabani village schools. The aid bags are distributed as an adjunct to the "first responder" training that is given to ICDC, FPS, and IP's, and each school will be given one as a first aid kit.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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