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Task Force Baghdad nabs weapons, suspected terrorists

June 20, 2005

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, June 20, 2005) -– Three Iraqi citizens helped save countless lives when they reported information to Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers regarding large weapons caches and three men allegedly planning a terrorist attack in the capital.

A local farmer called officials from 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and informed them of the weapons cache. The farmer then transported the cache to an agreed-upon location and handed it over to U.S. Soldiers.

The cache included 400 hand grenades, 45 rocket-propelled grenades, two RPG launchers and a box of ammunition.

Another weapons cache was reported to Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division by a resident living in the Adamiya district of central Baghdad. The cache contained three mortar rounds, 13 projectiles of various types, 20 pounds of solid rocket fuel, two rockets and an anti-tank mine. The Iraqi Soldiers also found an assortment of blasting caps, fuses and wire at the site.

A resident living in the Ghazaliyah district of central Baghdad notified Task Force Baghdad Soldiers about a group of terrorists planning an attack on a coalition checkpoint in Abu Ghraib and offered to go with the Soldiers to show exactly where the plotters lived.

The Soldiers investigated the tip and took two targeted terror suspects and another suspect into custody for questioning.

“In the past two weeks, we have seen the number of tips on enemy activity given to us from the local Iraqi people skyrocket,” said Lt. Col. Steven Merkel, 1-9 FA commander.

“I have had the opportunity in the past two days to meet with local leaders in Zafaraniya and in Mad’ian,” Merkel said. “In each case, I explained how important it is that the Iraqi people report suspicious activity to the Iraqi Security Forces or to Coalition Forces. The local leaders themselves indicated they feel the momentum shifting away from the terrorists and applauded everyone’s efforts to make Iraq more secure for the people.”

In other combat operations, Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers captured five more terror suspects, including another targeted individual, and found two additional weapons caches. On June 20, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers captured 24 terror suspects, including 12 AK-47 assault rifles. U.S. patrol in north Baghdad came under a terrorist small-arms fire attack from a house.

When Soldiers investigated, they found 25 people inside, including seven military-aged males. Here they also found an AK-47 assault rifle, five rifle magazines and spent shell casings on the roof. Six of the seven men were taken into custody for questioning.

“Iraq Security Forces are taking on greater responsibilities,” said Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a Task Force Baghdad spokesperson. “They’re getting a lot of support from Iraqi citizens who want a secure country led by their own countrymen.”

(Editor’s Note: Information from a number of news releases was combined by ARNEWS correspondent Monica Barrera for this article.)