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    Operation Eagle Ares brings 46 into custody

    Operation Eagle Ares Brings 46 Into Custody

    Courtesy Photo | Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more

    MAHMUDIYAH, IRAQ

    07.14.2007

    Courtesy Story

    2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

    2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

    FORWARD OPRATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — Soldiers, both Iraqi and U.S., nabbed 46 men suspected of involvement with al-Qaida affiliated terror networks July 12 under the cover of darkness, east of Lutifiyah, Iraq.

    Troops of the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y., air assaulted into the area, and then began searching reeds along canals for weapons caches.

    The combined air assault detained 29 men on the Iraqi army's list of persons of interest, and 14 others who were identified by sources as terrorists. Three other men detained were taken for questioning on suspicion of terrorist activity.

    Air assaults are critical in the 2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div.'s area of operations, said Maj. Kenny Mintz, a native of San Diego, Calif., and the brigade's operations officer.

    "The terrain here is dominated by canals, which makes it difficult to get around," explained Mintz. "Some of these canals are more like rivers. An air assault allows us to get around quickly and decisively.

    "Another reason is how the enemy fights us – they can plant improvised explosive devices in the roads, because they know we're essentially road bound, and deny us access to their areas," Mintz said.

    Using helicopters avoids the hazards – both natural and manmade. It's also faster, and seconds count, said Mintz, when in pursuit of terrorists who can disappear into tall vegetation in the lush Euphrates River valley.

    Use of helicopters also allows Soldiers – with their heavy combat loads and armor – to move farther and faster in the summer heat, the San Diego native said. With daytime temperatures that top 110 degrees Fahrenheit, Soldiers rapidly exhaust the supplies of water they can carry. By flying, rather than walking, to an objective, the troops can function much longer, he added.

    There were no caches found during the operation. The detainees were taken to Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah for questioning.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.14.2007
    Date Posted: 07.16.2007 09:36
    Story ID: 11281
    Location: MAHMUDIYAH, IQ

    Web Views: 199
    Downloads: 149

    PUBLIC DOMAIN