February 24, 2005
Release Number: 05-02-17


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


OPERATION RIVER BLITZ CONTINUES WITH HELP FROM IRAQI CITIZENS

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq – Iraqi and U.S. forces continued increased security operations by raiding a mosque, detaining 17 suspected insurgents and seizing several weapons caches throughout the Al Anbar province as Operation River Blitz rolled on for a fifth day.

Those detained Feb. 24 bring to 104 the number of suspected insurgents detained since Operation River Blitz began Sunday.

In Haqlaniyah, Iraqi soldiers from the Freedom Guard Battalion, Iraqi National Guard, and U.S. Marines from Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division, conducted a joint raid on a mosque that produced six detainees and insurgent propaganda at approximately 12:30 p.m. The Freedom Guards cleared the mosque as U.S. Marines provided security outside.

North of Ar Ramadi, a local civilian directed a U.S. Marine combat patrol to an improvised-explosive device, which consisted of four 105 mm artillery rounds that were daisy-chained together in a brown bag hidden underneath a pile of leaves at approximately 10:00 a.m.

At approximately 11:15 a.m. in the central portion of the city, insurgents shot an Iraqi citizen in the abdomen when they fired a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire at U.S. Marines. The Marines provided medical treatment to the injured civilian after immediately returning fire at the insurgents, who fled the area.

In southern Fallujah, an Iraqi civilian guided a U.S. Marine patrol to a weapons cache, which consisted of one 82 mm mortar round, seven 57 mm rounds, three 23 mm rounds and one 30 mm round at approximately 1 p.m. Earlier in the day, another Iraqi civilian guided another U.S. Marine patrol to a weapons cache in the southeastern portion of the city that consisted of one missile warhead, 100 pounds of TNT and one 120 mm mortar round.

U.S. forces detained 11 suspected insurgents and seized several weapons caches during operations throughout other areas of the Al Anbar province Feb. 24.

The following weapons and munitions were seized:

(2) AK-47 assault rifles

(8) AK-47 magazines

(4) RPG rounds

(1) RPG scope

(1) Pistol

(800) 7.9mm rounds

(30) Anti-aircraft rounds

(1) 60mm mortar round

(2) 82mm mortar rounds

(1) 105mm artillery round

(6) 120mm mortar rounds

(2) Complete 122mm rocket systems

(1) 130mm projectile

(1) 155mm artillery round

(1) 7 in. rocket

(162) Large caliber unidentified artillery rounds


Insurgent propaganda and materials to make improvised-explosive devices were also found with the weapons caches.

The seizure and subsequent destruction of the weapons cache disrupts anti-Iraqi forces’ ability to launch attacks against Iraqi and U.S. forces and civilians.

The 1st Marine Division of the I Marine Expeditionary Force stands committed with the Iraqi security forces to disrupt and defeat anti-Iraqi forces while providing enhanced security to the people of Al Anbar province.