Iraqi army finds cache southeast of Hillah

Courtesy Photo | Iraqi army soldiers recovered a cache June 6 in a rural area southeast of Hillah. (U.S. Army photo/1st Lt. Ryan Lawson)  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

06.10.2008

Courtesy Story

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi army soldiers recovered a weapons cache June 6 in a rural area southeast of Hillah.

The cache contained three assembled explosively-formed projectiles (EFPs), 10 unassembled EFPs, three rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, 10 RPGs, 127 blocks of C-4, 15 cameras, one magnetic IED and two mines.

"The discovery of this cache is another example of the IA's increasing ability to gather intelligence, process the information and plan and execute in a timely manner," said Lt. Col. Darryl McDowell, commander of 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. "The Iraqi security forces are taking the lead in confiscating illegal weapons before they can do harm to (coalition forces) and (ISF). They take great pride in being out front and they really seem to understand their role in the success of Iraq as a whole."

Soldiers in 1st Battalion, 31st Brigade, 8th IA Division, received information from a source and found a cache containing both complete and partially-assembled explosively-formed projectiles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and C-4 explosives.

"This find is significant for two reasons," McDowell said. "First, more of the population is coming to the IA in the area with tips and information than ever before. This indicates a level of trust in the IA that is very encouraging. Second, it does serve as a reminder of the level of sophistication and production of (improvised explosive devices) that extremist elements have reached."

"Extremist and criminal elements throughout AO Scimitar have been trying to recover from the successful offensive operations conducted by ISF in late March and early April," McDowell said. "They are trying to demonstrate a continued ability to conduct attacks and this will limit their ability to do so."

An explosive ordnance disposal team from Kalsu collected the cache and disposed of it.

• Date Taken: 06.10.2008
• Date Posted: 06.10.2008 04:36
• Story ID: 20292
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ