Terrorists Killed, Captured in Iraq; Weapons Caches Found

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2006 - Stryker Brigade soldiers killed a terrorist and wounded another after spotting them attempting to place an anti-tank mine near Muqdadiya, in Iraq's Diyala province, yesterday, U.S. military officials said.

The patrol from Comanche Troop, 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, investigated the scene and found the mine set to detonate on a passing vehicle. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the mine on site. Iraqi and coalition forces continue to work throughout Diyala province to stop insurgent activity and increase security in the multi-ethnic region, officials said.

In addition, four suspected insurgents were detained and a large weapons cache was found during an Iraqi army-led operation with coalition forces in Mosul yesterday. Iraqi soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, and coalition soldiers cleared the area around one building and detained two suspects, while another group moved to a second building, detaining two additional suspects without incident.

Two coalition soldiers in the first building found a crawl space on the roof, which revealed a hidden weapons cache. The cache contained rocket-propelled grenades and launchers, rifles, mortar tubes, military maps and propaganda.

A coalition forces interpreter overheard the detainees discussing a second cache in the building and notified the soldiers. The second cache was hidden behind a 16 inch-thick concrete wall in the basement of the building. Using sledgehammers, Iraqi soldiers unearthed a larger weapons cache containing grenades, ammunition, machine guns and mortar rounds. There were no injuries during the course of the operation.

Elsewhere, Iraqi security forces captured two people suspected of kidnapping and murdering Iraqi civilians during an early-morning raid near Tarmiya on Sept. 26.

Iraqi forces, along with coalition advisors, conducted an air assault near their objective and quickly entered a residence holding the suspects. Iraqi forces detained the suspects without incident. Those detained are believed to belong to a terror cell that commits acts of violence against innocent Iraqis and have ties to al Qaeda in Iraq, and have allegedly targeted U.S. forces in a bomb attack, officials said.

The two detainees are in Iraqi custody. There were no casualties during the operation. The raid was conducted as part of Operation Together Forward to capture those responsible for the murder of innocent Iraqi civilians. The operation, a helicopter-borne assault, highlights the capability of Iraqi forces to go where criminals are, deny them sanctuary, and provide for a safe and secure Iraq, officials said.

Also on Sept. 26, specially trained Iraqi security forces captured six terrorists suspected of targeting coalition forces with makeshift bombs during a raid near Haswah. The suspects, who all had outstanding Ministry of Interior arrest warrants, are believed to be responsible for a bomb attack that resulted in the death of a U.S. soldier.

Components for building makeshift bombs also were captured, and multiple suspects and a vehicle at the site tested positive for exposure to military-grade explosives. The detainees left the scene in Iraqi custody. There were no casualties in the operation.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1281]

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