Release A050606a

Coalition Forces locate weapons caches in Al Anbar update

Multi-National Force-Iraq

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND , Iraq – Marines, Sailors and Soldiers assigned to Regimental Combat Team – 8, destroyed a large weapons cache and bunker system in Karmah, north of Fallujah June 5.

Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces discovered the large cache June 2, while conducting operations in the area. The site was an old rock quarry, approximately 170 meters wide by 275 meters long that contained an underground bunker.

Within the various rooms of the facility, Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces discovered four fully furnished living spaces, a kitchen with fresh food, two shower facilities and a working air conditioner.

More than 50 weapons and munitions caches were discovered in the last four days. Approximately 12 weapons cache sites have been discovered within a five mile radius of the rock quarry.

A joint Navy and Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Combat Logistics Battalion-8, 2nd Force Service Support Group helped to identify and inventory all the items found in the cache before destroying it, using roughly 300 pounds of plastic explosives. The bunker and weapons cache were destroyed simultaneously.

Large quantities of plastic explosives, mortar and artillery rounds were discovered in these cache sites. The explosives are commonly used by terrorists in the construction of roadside and car bombs.

Destruction of the cache sites and the underground complex denies their use by terrorists against Iraqi civilians, Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces.

Iraqi Security Forces and Marines continue to locate and destroy weapons caches throughout Al Anbar Province.

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PHOTOGRAPHS TO SUPPORT THIS STORY ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CPIC PRESS DESK BY E-MAILING [email protected] .

CUTLINES:

NORTHERN SECURITY ZONE , Iraq -- (June 05, 2005) - The entrance to an underground bunker was found while conducting cache sweeps. The Marines and Soldiers attached to 2nd Marine Division, conducts counter-terrorism operations with Iraqi Security Forces to isolate and neutralize anti-Iraqi forces. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paul Mancuso)

NORTHERN SECURITY ZONE, Iraq -- (June 05, 2005) - While conducting cache sweeps, Marines from 1 st Platoon, Company B, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, and Soldiers from Company C, 224 Engineer Battalion, unearth several large caches. One cache was located in a bunker system accessed through a tunnel entrance in this building. The Marines and Soldiers attached to 2nd Marine Division, conducts counter-insurgency operations with Iraqi Security Forces to isolate and neutralize anti-Iraqi forces. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paul Mancuso)

NORTHERN SECURITY ZONE , Iraq -- (June 05, 2005) - The entrance to an underground bunker was found while conducting cache sweeps. The Marines and Soldiers attached to 2nd Marine Division, conducts counter-terrorism operations with Iraqi Security Forces to isolate and neutralize anti-Iraqi forces. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paul Mancuso)

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TEXT FOR THIS RELEASE WAS PROVIDED BY THE 2ND MARINE DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI , IRAQ . THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE CONTENT IS CAPT. JEFFREY S. POOL; [email protected] .