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Release A051010d

Operation River Gate update

Multi-National Force-Iraq

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq - Iraqi Security Forces and Marines, Soldiers and Sailors from Regimental Combat Team 2 continued Operation Bawwabatu Annaher (River Gate) in the cities of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana Oct. 10.

On Oct. 9, three men in a white four-door sedan were stopped by Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers at a vehicle checkpoint northeast of Haditha. While searching the white sedan, Soldiers found a video camera. Minutes later, a similar white four-door sedan approached the checkpoint and began driving erratically. Soldiers used hand and arm gestures to signal the vehicle to stop. The car continued to accelerate toward the checkpoint, even after warning shots were fired. When the Soldiers began firing at the vehicle, the vehicle detonated within yards of the Soldiers, killing the driver.

When the Soldiers inspected the video camera and viewed several minutes of the footage on the tape, they recognized one of the three men from the first sedan. The video recorded the male speaking to the driver of the suicide car bomb that just detonated. When questioned about the connection, the men stated that they found the camera on the side of the road. The three men were detained for further questioning.

Video-taping suicide car bombings is a terrorist propaganda tactic used to spread fear and to intimidate Iraqi citizens. Iraqi Security Forces discovered a terrorist propaganda center early in the operation Oct. 7 in Haditha.

On Oct. 10, two additional weapons caches were found in Haditha. The cache sites contained bomb-making material, small-arms, RPGs and ammunition.

Currently there are approximately 130 suspected terrorists being detained. U.S. Forces have released more than 70 detainees after questioning.

The operation’s goal is to deny Al Qaeda in Iraq the ability to operate in the Western Euphrates River Valley cities and to free the local citizens from the insurgents’ campaign of murder and intimidation targeting innocent women, children and men.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE 2D MARINE DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER AT POOLJS@GCEMNF-WIRAQ.USMC.MIL.