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Operation Eagle Venture IV detains nine terror suspects

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Tuesday, 03 July 2007
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070703-09
July 3, 2007

Operation Eagle Venture IV detains nine terror suspects
Multi-National Division – Center PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — Coalition Forces detained nine suspected insurgents while constructing a battle position between Mahmudiyah and Yusifiyah, Iraq, June 29-30.

Soldiers of the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, in conjunction with troops of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., air assaulted into an area along a highway known as Route Sioux during the night. The Soldiers’ mission was to set up security for the construction of a new battle position to prevent movement of anti-Iraqi forces into Baghdad.

The battle position, strategically placed in the area which has long been a central terrorist haven, will provide a center for operations in the area, said Maj. Matt Zimmerman, operations officer for the 2-15th FA and a native of Willington, Conn.

“The establishment of a new battle position in the Sayyid-Abdullah corridor consolidates the progress made by the Iraqi Security Forces in denying the area as a safe-haven to al-Qaeda in Iraq and other anti-Iraqi forces,” said Zimmerman.

“It also establishes an additional line of communication between the cities of Mahmudiyah and Yusufiyah. Having that communication will allow the 4/6 IA to increase their control in their area of operations, and help them to provide a safe and secure environment for the local populace,” Zimmerman said.

Ground troops from Battery A, 2-15th FA discovered a small cache of anti-coalition propaganda compact disks, and Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd BCT, found an improvised explosive device consisting of six 60mm mortar rounds while traveling to the new battle position.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team conducted a controlled detonation of the IED.

Six Iraqi citizens were detained at checkpoints leading to the site. One of the detainees was on a U.S. persons-of-interest list, three others were on the Iraqi army’s persons-of-interest list, and two carried false identification papers.

During construction efforts for the new position, 2-15 Soldiers came under small-arms fire; attack aviation was called in and the small arms fire was brought to a halt.

Battery A Soldiers provided security as construction personnel built the battle position and reed-clearance teams cleared vegetation for better observation.

The six detainees were taken to a detention facility for questioning.

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FOR QUERIES, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT MND-CENTER_PAO@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MILT OR BY PHONE AT DSN 318-822-7482 OR COMMERCIAL 912-767-4114.