OVERWATCH
12-29-2005, 04:54 AM
Weapons Caches Found, Bombers Caught
Army News Service | December 28, 2005
TIKRIT, Iraq (http://www.military.com/Iraq) - Three weapons caches were discovered and destroyed by Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers Dec. 27 in north central Iraq.
Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team discovered a large cache of mortar rounds and artillery fuses while patrolling near Hawijah.
Nearly 400 mortar rounds of various types and sizes, along with 250 lbs. of explosive propellant, 878 artillery fuses, 1,900 rounds of small arms ammunition, a Russian-made anti-tank missile and an anti-personnel mine were blown up by an explosive ordnance disposal team at the site in a controlled detonation.
Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers, operating near Bayji uncovered and destroyed two weapons caches.
The first find yielded three mortar tubes, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, more than 60 rocket propelled grenade warheads, a pound of plastic explosives and several hundred rounds of small-arms ammunition. The second, larger cache contained 58 artillery shells, 300 anti-aircraft artillery rounds, 26 mortar tubes, four RPG launchers and 35 lbs. of bulk explosives.
Iraqi and U.S. forces have found dozens of weapons caches since Task Force Band of Brothers began operations during October 2005. Thousands of weapons and explosives have been taken from terrorists and other criminals, preventing an untold number of attacks against the local populace and coalition forces.
Would-be bombers busted
Soldiers disrupted two terrorist bombing operations Dec. 27 in Baqubah, a city 20 miles north of Baghdad.
Two terrorists were detained and another killed during the incidents at a newly emplaced checkpoint.
The first incident occurred just before noon, when Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team stopped a suspicious car and detained the driver after discovering the vehicle was being prepared as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.
An explosives ordnance disposal team was called to examine the vehicle. No explosives were found, but the car was laced with wiring used to detonate explosives. The car was confiscated and taken to a nearby military base.
Several hours later, a second vehicle tried to run through the checkpoint and was fired at by 3ID troops. The driver was killed in the initial burst of fire and the vehicle came to a quick stop. Two men with AK-47 assault rifles climbed out and were fired on by Soldiers as they attempted to flee.
One of the gunmen successfully evaded capture, but the other was wounded and quickly surrounded. As the Soldiers approached the wounded man, they noticed he was wearing what appeared to be an explosive laden suicide belt.
Soldiers guarded the man until an explosive ordnance disposal team arrived and removed the belt, which contained more than three pounds of plastic explosives. The failed bomber was treated for his wounds and detained.
http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,83993,00.html
Army News Service | December 28, 2005
TIKRIT, Iraq (http://www.military.com/Iraq) - Three weapons caches were discovered and destroyed by Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers Dec. 27 in north central Iraq.
Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team discovered a large cache of mortar rounds and artillery fuses while patrolling near Hawijah.
Nearly 400 mortar rounds of various types and sizes, along with 250 lbs. of explosive propellant, 878 artillery fuses, 1,900 rounds of small arms ammunition, a Russian-made anti-tank missile and an anti-personnel mine were blown up by an explosive ordnance disposal team at the site in a controlled detonation.
Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers, operating near Bayji uncovered and destroyed two weapons caches.
The first find yielded three mortar tubes, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, more than 60 rocket propelled grenade warheads, a pound of plastic explosives and several hundred rounds of small-arms ammunition. The second, larger cache contained 58 artillery shells, 300 anti-aircraft artillery rounds, 26 mortar tubes, four RPG launchers and 35 lbs. of bulk explosives.
Iraqi and U.S. forces have found dozens of weapons caches since Task Force Band of Brothers began operations during October 2005. Thousands of weapons and explosives have been taken from terrorists and other criminals, preventing an untold number of attacks against the local populace and coalition forces.
Would-be bombers busted
Soldiers disrupted two terrorist bombing operations Dec. 27 in Baqubah, a city 20 miles north of Baghdad.
Two terrorists were detained and another killed during the incidents at a newly emplaced checkpoint.
The first incident occurred just before noon, when Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team stopped a suspicious car and detained the driver after discovering the vehicle was being prepared as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.
An explosives ordnance disposal team was called to examine the vehicle. No explosives were found, but the car was laced with wiring used to detonate explosives. The car was confiscated and taken to a nearby military base.
Several hours later, a second vehicle tried to run through the checkpoint and was fired at by 3ID troops. The driver was killed in the initial burst of fire and the vehicle came to a quick stop. Two men with AK-47 assault rifles climbed out and were fired on by Soldiers as they attempted to flee.
One of the gunmen successfully evaded capture, but the other was wounded and quickly surrounded. As the Soldiers approached the wounded man, they noticed he was wearing what appeared to be an explosive laden suicide belt.
Soldiers guarded the man until an explosive ordnance disposal team arrived and removed the belt, which contained more than three pounds of plastic explosives. The failed bomber was treated for his wounds and detained.
http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,83993,00.html