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NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

May 16, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-53


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- Coalition Forces continue to aggressively patrol to make Iraq safer for all Iraqis by eliminating smuggling and trade in weapons and explosives.

Coalition forces also continue to conduct training and joint security patrols with Iraqi police in efforts to increase the professionalism of the police force and prepare them for their role in a self-governed Iraq.Coalition Activity:Fifth Corps soldiers raided a suspected safe house in Al Door, a town just north of Baghdad, that resulted in about 250 detainees. Among the detainees was Adil Abdallah Mahdi Al Duri Al-Tikriti who is the Ba'ath Party Chairman for the Dhi Qar District.

The Second Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division conducted 38 daytime joint patrols and 74 nighttime joint patrols with Iraqi police in Mosul. One of the patrols was attacked by Iraqis who fired pistols and threw a grenade. The patrol wounded and detained one individual. There were no casualties among the patrol members.

Fifth Corps soldiers raided a local arms market in Fallujah early Wednesday morning.

The collected two truckloads of weapons and ammunition and arrested the owners.Second Battalion, Third Armored Cavalry Regiment soldiers raided an arms market near Fallujah. Several prisoners were taken and are being interrogated.

Various small arms, as well as bundles of blasting caps were found. Suspected arms dealer, Sahid Salyman, was killed in the raid when he tried to kill coalition soldier.Fourth Infantry Division soldiers raided a government building on Wednesday believed to be running a regime "shadow government" in Baqubah.

Soldiers arrested 15 Iraqis and confiscated various types of weapons and communications equipment.Third Brigade Combat Team soldiers continue to conduct presence patrols in Tall Afar. On Wednesday, they found rocket-propelled grenades, rockets, small arms and ammunition, a mortar tube and blocks of explosives in a village.

They were acting on a tip from citizens who wanted the arms and explosives taken away from their village.A patrol from the U.S. Army's 977th MP Company, working with U.S. Marine's First Expeditionary Force, seized weapons and ammunition Wednesday morning near Ad Diwaniyah.

The raid yielded a high-powered rifle, an AK-47 and several mortar rounds. The rifle is suspected to have been used in an ambush several days ago in which gunmen killed a one coalition soldier and wounded another. Five prisoners were taken in custody.

Police Activity:

Marines from Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment and Iraqi police conducted ajoint police raid and recovered two kidnapped children in Ad Diwaniyah Wednesday.


Eighteen Iraqi-Marine police patrols were conducted and eight joint static security positions were manned in Ad Diwaniyah.

The local police obtained better transportation and communication capabilities, which increased their ability to perform their mission.Third Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment Civil Affairs personnel graduated another class of Iraqi Police from a training program they established in Karbala Province.

Part of the 442nd Military Police Company arrived today in An Najaf to support law and order training.Local Iraqi police in All Hillah began providing security to local hospitals, banks, water treatment sites and electrical plants Wednesday. Marines from Third Battalion, Seventh Marines continued joint Marine-Iraqi police patrols and manning of joint static-security sites.

The U.S. Army's 551st MilitaryPolice Company, working with Marines from Second Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, are developing a plan for joint U.S.-Iraqi policing of As Samawah.The U.S. Army's 194th Military Police Company is working with the Third Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment on a plan for joint policing of the city of As Suwaryah.Second Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment personnel recently graduated 60 Iraqi citizens from a two-day security training program in As Samawah.

The graduates will serve as security guards at sites throughout the city.

In the First Marine Expeditionary Force's zone, which is Iraqi territory southeast of Baghdad, 9,358 Iraqi policemen are now back at work. This is about half of what will be required to bring the police force back to full strength. In the U.S. Fifth Corps zone, which is Baghdad and areas north and east of Baghdad, 8,626 Iraqi policemen are back at work.

About 43,000 will be required to bring the police force back to full strength. Third Infantry Division soldiers conducted 143 patrols in various areas in Baghdad in the last 24 hours, significantly decreasing the amount of criminal activity reported.

The Coalition Joint Task Force Seven's Provost Marshal's Office (military police) will support the efforts of DynCorp International to recruit, train and logistically support up to 1,000 advisors. DynCorp International was recently awarded the Iraqi Police Advisor contract by the U.S. Department of State Mission in Iraq. Advisors are anticipated to start arriving in Iraq in June.