U.S., Iraqi Forces Detain Many Insurgents
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2005 – Multinational forces have detained numerous insurgents over the past 48 hours in continuing efforts to ensure security for the Iraqi elections on Jan. 30, according to military officials today.
Some 28 suspected anti-Iraqi individuals were detained in northern Iraq today by members of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team).
Twenty people suspected of anti-Iraqi activity were also detained today by soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, while conducting cordon- and-search operations in Wanah.
Eight individuals suspected of being associated with an insurgent cell during a raid south of Mosul were also detained.
Members of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) confiscated weapons and ammunition, and detained four people during operations in northern Iraq on Jan. 24.
Combat team members also detained six individuals during operations in northern Iraq on Jan. 23. Quick-response forces from Task Force Olympia detained five people suspected of planting a roadside bomb. Soldiers of 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Regiment, detained another individual suspected of anti-Iraqi activity north of Hammam Al Alil.
Multinational Force Iraq troops also confiscated weapons and ammunition, and detained three people suspected of anti-Iraqi activity in eastern Mosul on Jan. 24.
The same day, soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, detained an individual suspected of anti-Iraqi activities north of Al Hawd.
Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd "Commando" Brigade Combat Team captured 12 suspected insurgents after a series of raids in the Abu Ghraib district on Jan. 24. The unit uncovered a variety of weapons and ammunition, including 57 mm rockets and tube launchers; rocket-propelled-grenade launchers, boosters and high explosive rounds; blocks of C4 plastic explosive; canisters of PE4 plastic explosive; blasting caps; RPK machine-gun ammunition rounds; mortar rounds of various caliber; SPG recoilless anti-tank rounds; and Iraqi police uniforms.
Four insurgents were apprehended following improvised explosive device strikes that destroyed three cars near Munsha 'a Village on Jan. 24, military officials reported.
After hearing the explosions, soldiers from 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, dispatched a patrol that found three cars destroyed, one belonging to an Iraqi army soldier.
Members of the 1st Infantry Division captured an individual wanted for suspected attacks on multinational and Iraqi security forces during a raid near Ad Dwar on Jan. 24.
Joint raids by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Ramadi netted an AK-47, five cell phones, about $42,000, various foreign currencies equivalent to about $72,000 and eight detainees, officials report from Camp Blue Diamond, Iraq.
The series of joint raids Jan. 24 were carried out by U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, operating under the 1st Marine Division of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Iraqi Security Forces.
Meanwhile, Marines and soldiers from the I Marine Expeditionary Force detained 23 suspected insurgents and discovered several weapons caches during operations throughout Anbar province over the last 48 hours.
Weapons and munitions seized included two rockets, 62 rocket-propelled grenade warheads, 19 RPG launchers, two AK-47 assault rifles, three sniper rifles with scopes, more than 2,500 rounds of ammunition, more than 100 mortar rounds and bomb-making material.
Task Force Baghdad and Iraqi army troops uncovered a weapons cache on Jan. 23 in eight locations near the town of Latifiyah. The 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, led the discovery operation that yielded thousands of small-arms ammunition and hundreds of artillery, anti-aircraft and mortar rounds.
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