Coalition Forces Disrupt Ambush; U.S. Engineers Find Roadside Bomb
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2005 � Coalition forces foiled a terrorist ambush in an area northwest of Baghdad late Oct. 29, military officials reported today.
The coordinated combat operation against the terrorist forces involved U.S. Army ground and aviation forces and close-air support from a U.S. Air Force F-15E, which dropped a 500-pound precision-guided bomb on the enemy position.
The area was known for multiple ambushes with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades against local Iraqi citizens, Iraqi security forces and coalition forces, officials said.
Around 9 p.m., a group of terrorists was spotted moving along a canal and getting into position for an ambush. As ground forces from 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, secured the area around the ambush site, attack helicopters arrived at the scene and confirmed that the individuals hiding in the bushes were enemy forces.
When the terrorists fired at the helicopters, the AH-64 Apaches engaged them with return gunfire.
Several enemy forces retreated into a nearby house, but later fled the premises as U.S. forces moved in.
The Apache helicopters continued to engage the terrorists as they scattered and tried to hide in vegetation. When several terrorists converged in one location, ground forces called in the F-15E air strike.
Coalition forces killed at least six terrorists in the combat operation, and wounded and detained five others. No U.S. or civilian casualties were reported.
In other operations in Iraq, Task Force Baghdad soldiers discovered a roadside bomb northwest of Baghdad on the evening of Oct. 28.
Combat engineers from 36th Engineer Group discovered the hidden improvised explosive device before it could be used to harm Iraqi security forces, Iraqi civilians or coalition forces.
Soldiers from 70th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, quickly secured the site after the discovery. An explosives ordnance disposal team recovered the bomb.
(Compiled from Task Force Baghdad and Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)