BASRA - IA soldiers discovered a weapons cache in 2 vehicles during Op Charge of the Knights in the Al-Quibla district of Basra, April 19.
Acting on a tip from an Iraqi citizen, the IA soldiers found ordnance in the vehicles, including RPG rounds with launcher, an EFP device, various sized mortars, a homemade .50 caliber rifle with standard and armor piercing rounds, plastic explosives, electronic trigger devices, and a large amount of small arms ammo.
"The continued success of Op Charge of the Knights is due in part by the local Iraqis providing numerous tips to the IA on where these weapons are stored," said Lt. Col. Neil Harper, deputy public affairs officer for MNC-Iraq. "The citizens of Iraq are protecting their own communities, working with the Iraqi Security and CF; they are taking greater responsibility for their own lives and their communities."
Since Op Charge of the Knights began, the IA has discovered 13 weapons caches and detained 13 criminals. They also discovered more than 240 artillery and mortar rounds ranging in size from 60mm to 155mm; EFPs; more than 40 RPG rounds with launchers; and numerous rockets and IED making materials. Some of these weapons had Iranian markings.
IA soldiers discover large cache with Iranian-marked weapons during Op Charge of the Knights
BASRA - The IA discovered a large weapons and munitions cache in a house located in the Al Hyyaniyah area of Basra, April 19, including a 240 mm high-explosive war-head and approx. 160 mortars, some of which were less than 12 months old. The cache also contained approx. 25 artillery shells, more than 20 complete IEDs, large quantities of IED components, several EFPs and dozens of grenades and fuses. Also included were more than 20 blocks of plastic explosives, homemade anti-personnel mines packed with ball bearings, hundreds of meters of detonation cord, improvised rocket launching rails, and thousands of rounds of small-arms ammo.
"The success in finding these large caches was also due in part by numerous tips from concerned local Iraqis. This is another great example of Iraqis dealing with their own issues, and they should be admired for their bravery," said Lt. Col. Neil Harper.
Special Group criminals continue attacks against Iraqi people and U.S. Soldiers
BAGHDAD - MND-Baghdad Soldiers remain committed to supporting the people of Baghdad and the Iraqi SF until a time when they can take over security ops throughout Baghdad against AQI and Special Group Criminals.
At 3:30 p.m. on April 20, a CF observation post in Sadr City was fired upon by 3 SG criminals and U.S. Soldiers returned fire killing 1 and wounding the other 2.
At 4: 45 p.m., following a rocket attack, a UAV positively identified 5 SG criminals with rocket rails in Sadr City. Two criminals proceeded into a vehicle after loading it with the rocket rails. The other 3 individuals separated and went in other directions. The UAV followed the vehicle with the 2 criminals and rocket rails to a house. As the criminals were unloading the rails into the building, they were engaged by the UAV with a Hellfire missile, destroying the vehicle, rockets rails, and killing the 2 criminals.
Later, at approx. 4:50 p.m., a UAV positively identified 2 SG criminals loading a car with rockets and rocket rails in Sadr City. After following the vehicle in order to obtain a clear shot, the UAV fired a Hellfire missile, destroying the sedan, 6 rockets and rails, and killing the 2 criminals.
"It is the Iranian-supported Special Group criminals who are the primary reason the people of Baghdad are suffering," said Col. Allen Batschelet, Chief of Staff, MND-B. "They are responsible for the rocket and mortar attacks that led to Iraqi Security and CF Soldiers going into the southern neighborhoods of Sadr City. They are responsible for continued IED attacks and firefights that are causing innocent civilian deaths."
Resident's tip leads to weapons cache
BAGHDAD - A tip from a local citizen resulted in a weapons cache find near the Abu Eid Bridge, April 18.
The tip led Soldiers from 187th Inf Regt, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn Div (Air Assault), to the cache, which had been buried 6 inches in the ground. It contained 33 82 mm mortars, 5 57 mm folding-fin rockets, 2 62 mm mortars, an RPG launcher and 3 bags of rocket propellant.
