Release A051128a

Massive weapons cache discovered near Kirkuk

Multi-National Force-Iraq

TIKRIT, Iraq – U.S. Soldiers discovered more than 2,700 mortar rounds near an abandoned Iraqi Army base south of Kirkuk Sunday morning.

Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, and explosive ordnance disposal experts began the task of unearthing the weapons from a mound located in a field full of similar mounds. Iraqi and U.S. forces are securing the site and preparing to excavate the remaining mounds in search of additional weapons.

This cache alone has yielded as much explosive material as gathered in the brigade’s area over the past two months, according to the EOD team at the site.

Weapons and explosives seized by Iraqi and U.S. forces are normally moved to a secure location and disposed of through controlled detonations in order to keep them from being used against local citizens and coalition forces.

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THIS STORY HAS ACCOMPANYING PHOTOGRAPHS. TO RECEIVE THE PHOTOS, E-MAIL THE CPIC PRESS DESK AT cpicpressdesk@iraq.centcom.mil <mailto:cpicpressdesk@baghdadforum.com> .

TIKRIT, Iraq -- Soldiers pass an 82-mm mortar shell while emptying a massive weapons cache near Kirkuk Sunday. The weapons will be disposed of in a controlled detonation to ensure they don’t fall into terrorist hands for use against Iraqi citizens or coalition forces. (US Army photo)

TIKRIT, Iraq -- 101st Airborne Division Soldiers form a chain to move mortar rounds found in a massive weapons cache Sunday near Kirkuk. More than 2,700 rounds were discovered near an abandoned Iraqi military base. (US Army photo)

TIKRIT, Iraq -- An explosive ordnance disposal Soldier carefully excavates mortar shells from a massive cache found near Kirkuk Sunday by Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division. The cache, located near an abandoned Iraqi military base, yielded more than 2,700 mortar rounds. Iraqi and U.S. forces are securing the site and preparing the weapons for disposal. (US Army photo)

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For more information, please contact the 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION Public Affairs Office at EDWARD.LOOMIS@US.ARMY.MIL