Operation Hit and Run results in eight detained

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Tuesday, 04 September 2007
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070904-08
September 4, 2007

Operation Hit and Run results in eight detained
Multi-National Division – Center PAO

HAWR RAJAB, Iraq – Soldiers of the “Denali Squadron” detained eight suspected al-Qaeda members and confiscated four AK-47 assault rifles during Operation Hit and Run, an air assault mission Sept. 1.

Troop C, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, currently attached to 2nd BCT 3rd Inf. Div., along with six Iraqi soldiers, air assaulted into an area near Hawr Rajab where a suspected al-Qaeda cell was operating. The troop conducted raids on five separate buildings, which led to eight suspects detained.

This cell reportedly used the area as its sanctuary, from where members could commit violence and intimidation in western Hawr Rajab.

“A lot of these guys had multiple (negative) reports on them,” said Troop C commander, Capt. Derrick Goodwin.

“It is good for Troop C that we detained these bad guys. It’s going to help disrupt (the insurgency) in the (area of operations),” said Goodwin, a West Point graduate from San Diego, Calif..

Local residents told Soldiers some of the detainees had emplaced improved explosive devices on Coalition routes, murdered and kidnapped citizens, and were involved in an earlier attack on Patrol Base Dog.

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