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COALITION JOINT TASK FORCE - SEVEN

NEWS RELEASE

DSN 318.438.2289/COM 99.001.468.2289

May 16, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coalition Forces Provide Security and Stability

            CAMP DOHA, Kuwait - Coalition Forces continue to actively patrol Iraq to make it safe to conduct Humanitarian Assistance operations.  Recent incidents highlight the dangerous nature of their work:

A group of four armed individuals fired on a patrol of 3d Infantry Division soldiers in Baghdad early Friday morning.  The suspicious group had been spotted, and was being followed when the Iraqis fired at the soldiers.  The patrol returned fire, killing one of the gunmen, while the other three surrendered.  Four AK-47 assault rifles and a pistol were confiscated.  The soldiers sustained no casualties. 

Four individuals ambushed a group of 3rdInfantry Division military policemen in Baghdad early Friday morning.  The soldiers returned fore to break contact with the ambush, killing 2 gunmen, and wounded the other 2.  The soldiers sustained no casualties.   

Individuals traveling in a civilian vehicle fired on V Corps soldiers near Taji, Iraq early Friday morning.  A security force from the 4th Infantry Division responded to the scene, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle disabled the vehicle, and 4 individuals were detained.  The soldiers sustained no casualties.

One individual with an AK-47 fired shots at a group of 82d Airborne Division soldiers who were providing security to a gas station in Baghdad on Thursday.  When the individual fired at the soldiers' position, the snipers returned fire, but the man escaped.  The soldiers sustained no casualties.  

Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Assault Division attempted to disarm an adult male with an AK-47 on Thursday in southwest Mosul.  The gunman tried to escape and fired at US troops before he was shot and killed.  The soldiers sustained no casualties.

Six Iraqis fired at a Marine Corps patrol in An Nasiriyah late Thursday.  At the time of the incident the Marines were conducting a cordon and search mission.  In accordance with the rules of engagement, the Marines returned fire, killing one assailant and wounding another.  The Marines sustained no casualties

Several Iraqis engaged another Marine Corps unit during a cordon and search mission in Ash Shatrah late Thursday.  The Marines returned fire, killing one person.  The other assailants evaded capture.

A group of unknown assailants fired small arms at a V Corps convoy traveling near Baghdad late Thursday afternoon.  Members in the last vehicle of the convoy reported three shots, but the soldiers sustained no casualties, and did not return fire. 

            Late Wednesday evening, a gunman shot a soldier from a V Corps engineer battalion just south of Tikrit.  The bullet, which hit the soldier's right side, did not penetrate his body armor.  He was evacuated to a field medical facility, treated and later returned to duty.

            Despite the danger, Coalition forces remain dedicated to providing a secure and stable environment throughout Iraq so that infrastructure repair and humanitarian aid can continue.

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