Military

Iraqi, Coalition forces nab suspects, weapons, bombs

June 22, 2005

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, June 22, 2005) – Iraqi and Coalition Forces captured 16 terror suspects, seized weapons and foiled bomb attacks against a police station and four other targets in and around Baghdad June 21.

In northern Iraq June 21, Task Force Freedom troops killed one terrorist and injured another after the two detonated an explosive device that struck a Coalition convoy. Iraqi and Coalition forces also detained five suspects and seized a weapons cache near Mosul.

Iraqi Police arrest eight

The largest operation of the day was conducted by Iraqi Police in the Bab Al Sheikh district of central Baghdad. The police took eight terror suspects into custody, and seized eight AK-47 assault rifles, one pistol and a stolen IP motorcycle.

Later, at 6:50 p.m., Task Force Baghdad Soldiers in south Baghdad caught two terror suspects detonating a roadside bomb with a remote control. The Soldiers searched the men and found $900 dollars. Both suspects were taken into custody for questioning.

Bomb disarmed in police station

Less than 30 minutes later, Iraqi Forces from the Ministry of the Interior’s 3rd Public Order Battalion found three 130-millimeter artillery rounds wired together at the Salman Pak Iraqi Police station. The Iraqi Forces disarmed the bombs and turned them over to the police.

At 7:30 p.m., Iraqi Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, acting on a tip from an Iraqi citizen, found six rocket-propelled grenade rounds and 29 rocket charges hidden in a sewer manhole.

“This is at least the third time in two days that Iraqi citizens have come forward to provide Iraqi and Coalition Forces tips on the whereabouts of terrorists and locations of weapons caches,” said Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a Task Force Baghdad spokesperson. “Some of these tips have led to large numbers of terrorists being picked up and their weapons taken away.”

U.S. patrol fired upon

Earlier in the day, shortly after noon, a Task Force Baghdad unit patrolling on foot in the Khadamiyah district was fired upon. The patrol returned fire and hit the attacker in the leg. After treating the terrorist’s wounds, the patrol took him into custody for questioning.

In other combat operations, a unit in west Baghdad captured three more terrorists after a roadside bomb exploded near their convoy.

Troops seize weapons cache

Coalition Forces in southwest Baghdad conducted a cordon-and-search mission at 9:40 a.m. and apprehended two suspects for weapons violations. The suspects had 10 AK-47 rifles, one sub-machine gun, one hunting rifle, one pistol, nearly 800 rounds of ammunition and 14 assault rifle magazines in their house.

Task Force Baghdad Soldiers also found roadside bombs at three different locations in south and northwest Baghdad before terrorists could use them. At each site, the Soldiers blocked traffic to keep anyone from getting hurt and called in explosives teams to safely dispose of the munitions.

Stryker troops busy in Northern Iraq

In northern Iraq, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment detained two suspects observed attempting to emplace an IED in eastern Mosul. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment detained one individual suspected of terrorist activity during a raid in western Mosul.

Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment seized a weapons cache while patrolling in Tal Afar. The weapons were confiscated for future destruction.

(Editor’s note: Information provided by Task Force Baghdad PAO and Task Force Freedom Public Affairs in northwest Iraq.)