Soldiers find weapons caches, terrorists on island

Courtesy Photo | BAGHDAD -- A smoke cloud rises at dusk after an explosive ordnance disposal team destroys weapons and munitions found on an island in the Euphrates River Nov. 28. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Paul Fisher, 2/101st Airborne Division PAO)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.30.2005

Courtesy Story

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Pfc. Kelly K. McDowell
2/101st Airborne Division PAO

BAGHDAD --Task Force Baghdad Soldiers found multiple weapons caches on an island in the Euphrates River Nov. 28.

Military officials had been monitoring suspicious activity near the Euphrates River southwest of Baghdad for a couple of weeks. When conditions were right, Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division were ready to spring into action.

"The timing was right to attack the target," said 2/101st Airborne Div. Commander Col. Todd Ebel. "The pieces of the puzzle fit close enough."

Soldiers from 2/101st's 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment secured the objective and discovered three significant weapons caches.

Soldiers also searched surrounding homes and facilities, detaining two suspected terrorists.

In total, the Soldiers uncovered 11 500-pound bomb shells, C4 explosives, welding equipment, mortar rounds, miscellaneous bomb-making material, 57-millimeter rockets, 40 bags of fertilizer, 12 directional charges, five 155-millimeter rounds, 100 feet of detonation cord, three rocket-propelled grenades, eight bags of 20-millimeter rounds and other munitions and explosives.

An explosive ordinance disposal team was called to the site to conduct a controlled detonation of the caches.

"The large bombs and welding material are critical," Ebel said. "It is likely this material was used for improvised explosive devices and possibly vehicle-borne IEDs that threaten Iraqi citizens and Coalition Forces. I could not be more proud of these 2/101st Soldiers. They do this every day to help bring peace. No one could ask more of them."

• Date Taken: 11.30.2005
• Date Posted: 11.30.2005 17:23
• Story ID: 3907
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ