Friday, March 07, 2008

Explosive Discoveries in Iraq (Mar. 2008)

March 5, 2008: In two separate events, members of the Sons of Iraq turn over two weapons caches to soldiers in Arab Jabour. The caches includes 120 mm projectiles, anti-aircraft rounds and machine gun rounds.
Multi-National Corps Iraq (3-7-08): http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17490&Itemid=128

March 5, 2008: Several citizens of Arab Jabour, Iraq, discover a large cache of weapons then turn it over to soldiers at Patrol Base Red. It is believed the weapons were buried but still could be used. According to Capt. Joseph Inge, commander, Company D. the cache included, "111 57 mm projectiles and 22 60 mm projectiles. Each projectile was rigged with detonation cord and packed with homemade explosives. The only thing missing was an initiation device..."
Multi-National Corps Iraq (3-7-08): http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17499&Itemid=128

March 4, 2008: The Jabellah Iraqi Police force recovers a large weapons and munitions cache in a house in Jabellah. The cache was eventually transferred into the control of Coalition troops, and considered a successful recovery. The cache: "...consisted of 165 one-pound blocks of C-4 explosive, 19 rocket propelled grenades, five RPG launchers, one 60mm mortar tube, three rolls of detonation cord and two blasting caps for making improvised explosive devices, 25 107 mm high explosive rockets and 23 rocket fuses, 10 120 mm high explosive mortar rounds, 84 60 mm and 60 81 mm high explosive mortar rounds, along with six 60 mm mortar fuses."
Multi-National Corps Iraq (3-7-08): http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17482&Itemid=128

March 4, 2008: A large cache of weapons and munitions was recovered near a suspected al Qaeda training camp in Balad, Iraq by the Tal Afar Special Weapons and Tactics team and U.S. Special Forces. The cache was discovered during the progress of an operation that began on Match 2, targeting terrorist activity in the area. As a result of the operation, 9 terrorists were killed and 8 suspected terrorists were arrested. Tal Afar SWAT and US Special Forces seized weapons and munitions in several underground locations. The cache included: "...more than 700 lbs of home-made explosives; 11 120mm high-explosive mortar rounds; two AK-47 assault rifles; seven sights for RPG-7 rocket launchers; two Russian 120mm mortar rounds; one 122mm Chinese high explosive mortar round; 10, 82mm Chinese high explosive mortar rounds; 100 pounds of mortar propellant charges; two Belgian anti-personnel landmines; and various fuses." The weapons were destroyed on site.
Multi-National Corps Iraq (3-7-08): http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17489&Itemid=128

March 4, 2008: The Sons of Iraq working alongside Coalition Forces around Hawr Rajab and Zambraniyah discover two weapons caches. What was recovered from the two weapons caches include 5 gallon barrels of nitric acid, explosive initiators, 57 mm projectiles and improvised explosive devises. In addition, soldiers in Hawr Rajab found a third weapons cache, "The cache consisted of five rocket-propelled grenade warheads, one mortar tube, four AK47 magazines, one 60 mm mortar, three AK-47 butt stocks, two RPG launchers, two knives, two boxes of cell phones, 70 drums of 7.62 mm ammunition and various electronic components." All the contents of the three caches were destroyed.
Multi-National Corps Iraq (3-6-08): http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17478&Itemid=128

March 3-4, 2008: During an overnight operation in Adwaniyah, Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers with 3rd Infantry Division were tipped off by a lead from the Sons of Iraq to find two weapons caches and detain three insurgents. A member of the Sons of Iraq had informed his sheik that a fellow member was attempting to form his own insurgent group. Concerned for the safety of the town, he sheik, in turn, passed the information on to Soldiers of Troop B. Based on that and other information, soldiers conducted a raid on the suspect's house. Inside the house, soldiers discovered explosive making materials and other insurgent material. Outside the house, a larger weapons cache was found, "Soldiers discovered a weapons cache containing 100 feet of detonation cord, five grenades, a quarter pound of TNT, five pounds of plastic explosives, two rocket propelled grenade charge tubes, 28 mortar round charges, 33 bags of gunpowder, five pounds of unknown bulk explosives, five shotgun shells, two AK- 47 assault rifles, two PKC machine guns, two blasting caps, four timers, two 7.62 mm ammunition magazines and five ounces of acetone peroxide, a primary high explosive." Early morning of March 4, the Sons of Iraq assisted soldiers in discovering an additional weapons cache. Douglas Hoyt, commander of Troop B, 6th Squadron is quoted as saying that the Sons of Iraq, "They’re looking out for their own town. They don’t want to be terrorized again.”
Multi-National Corps Iraq (3-6-08): http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17477&Itemid=128

For More News and Information, visit Operation Iraqi Freedom: Official Websight of Multi-National Force Iraq, Press Releases: http://www.mnf-iraq.com

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