Marines uncover weapons cache in Babil
Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq - Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit uncovered a cache of weapons and ammunition in the vicinity of Musayyib Sept. 28 and detained three men with suspected ties to the ordnance.
The Marines, who are assigned to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines - the MEU's ground combat element - made the discovery during a routine patrol. They turned up three 60 mm mortar systems, seven 82-mm rounds, four 80-mm high-explosive rockets, 147 37-mm projectiles, seven rocket-propelled grenades, 10 100-mm high-explosive projectiles and 59 fuses.
The find marks the third such seizure by Bravo Company Marines in the last two weeks. In the past two months, MEU and Iraqi security forces have uncovered 34 weapons caches and nearly 150 improvised explosive devices, enabling them to destroy 35,000 pounds of enemy munitions.
The 24th MEU assumed operational control of Northern Babil Province July 29. Since then, the Marines have worked closely with Iraqi ecurity forces to disrupt criminal and other anti-Iraqi activity in the area.
Based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., the MEU is composed of 2,200 Marines and sailors. The unit's mission is to assist Iraqi authorities in fostering security and stability for the nearly 900,000 citizens of the province.
Release #040929e
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