U.S. Soldiers from 1st Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Division provide security at a combat outpost. Iraqi Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division and U,S Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted the target-driven operation to eliminate the insurgents’ perceived safe havens throughout the area and in the process, rescued seven hostages and discovered more than 10 weapons caches. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Bronco Suzuki, Joint Combat Camera Center.

Coalition forces also discovered more than 10 caches, nine improvised explosive devices and detained 11 suspected insurgents throughout the course of the operation.

The caches consisted of rocket-propelled grenade munitions, small-arms weapon systems, approximately 200 loaded AK-47 magazines, IED-making materials, grenades, mortar rounds and a suicide vest.

Iraqi Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division and U,S Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted the target-driven operation to eliminate the insurgents’ perceived safe havens throughout the area and secure the population of Chibernat.

“We continue to aggressively target the enemy, destroying the insurgents’ perceived power base and depleting their supplies,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala.

“They offer nothing but death and destruction, and will be brought to justice,” he added.

While clearing the neighborhood, Soldiers from Company B, 5-20 Inf. Regt., rescued seven local residents, to include an Iraqi Police captain, who was held hostage.

Approximately 100 meters from the site, the security forces discovered nine civilians who were killed prior to their arrival.

The freed hostages were taken to the Provincial Joint Coordination Center to provide a detailed account of their experience.

According to the victims, who were taken from Muqdadiya, Balad Ruz andBaquba, insurgents associated with the Islamic State of Iraq were responsible for their kidnapping and the killing of the other nine citizens in the house.

During the interview, the freed hostages said if the Soldiers would have arrived an hour later, they would have been killed by the terrorists.The detainees were transferred to a facility for further questioning.

“The discovery of caches and IEDs during this operation proves that the terrorists do not have safe havens within Diyala,” Sutherland added. “We will continue to be persistent, and provide a safe and secure environment to the innocent people throughout this province.”(Courtesy story by Multi-National Division – North)

In other developments throughout Iraq:

•     As Soldiers continue to search for two missing comrades south of Baghdad, troops of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), detained six suspects for other crimes.

•     Iraqi Soldiers conducted a raid on Thursday in an eastern Iraq neighborhood capturing seven suspects linked to the terrorist network of al-Qaeda in Iraq.