1/11th ACR destroys terror cell, find weapons, cash

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Benoit | A Soldier with 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, searches the area for weapon caches, using a metal detector on August 4, in western Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas Benoit, 256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)  

ABU GHRAIB, IRAQ

08.15.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Capt. Marc Pelini

1/11th ACR Public Affairs Representative

ABU GHRAIB, Iraq " In the 48 hours spanning Aug. 3 and 4, Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division conducted a series of raids to nab key planners of terrorist attacks and to seize weapons and bomb-making materials in Abu Ghraib, a western province of Baghdad.

The Soldiers captured four suspected terrorists, discovered five weapons caches, and confiscated more than $2,000 in U.S. currency.

Beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 3, Soldiers from B Troop, 1/11th ACR searched five locations in the Khandari district, where they detained one terrorist who positively identified three other members of his cell after he was captured.

The unit also unearthed two weapons caches shortly before midnight.

The first cache consisted of a mortar tube with more than 50 mortar rounds, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with two grenades and a sighting device, and a recoilless rifle with a tripod mount. The Soldiers also found 100 feet of detonation cord, 100 blasting caps and a videotape.

Twenty minutes later, the U.S. Soldiers found another weapons cache which contained $2,200 in U.S. currency, four hand grenades and a cell phone wired to a bomb detonation device.

The four terror suspects were taken into custody for questioning.

The first detainee also told the U.S. Soldiers about the location of an already-emplaced roadside bomb. A U.S. explosives ordnance disposal team located and destroyed the bomb.

Soldiers from 1/11th ACR carried out several missions to arrest terrorists and uncover their logistical bases in Abu Ghraib as part of Operation Thunder Cat, conducted by 256th BCT.

Since July, 1/11th ACR has uncovered more than five major cache sites and has arrested 28 terrorists working as part of terror cells conducting attacks against both Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces.

"The discovery of these caches and detainment of the individuals associated with it has dealt a serious blow to the terrorists operating in Abu Ghraib," said Maj. Brian Robertson, squadron executive officer, from Wilkesboro, N.C. "This success is a direct result of the persistence and hard work of the troopers of Bravo Troop and 1/11th ACR."

• Date Taken: 08.15.2005
• Date Posted: 08.15.2005 14:20
• Story ID: 2718
• Location: ABU GHRAIB, IQ