Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070527-12
May 27, 2007

Rashid clearing operations: Terrorist hunt moves to East Rashid
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers and Iraqi Security Forces moved clearing operations into the East Rashid security district of southern Baghdad May 26, detaining three suspected insurgents and finding two weapons caches.

The operation, known as Dragon Fire East, includes approximately 2,000 U.S Army Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division and 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

They are joined in the operation by Iraqi troops from the 7th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division.

During the first hours of Operation Dragon Fire East, 3-2nd SBCT Soldiers discovered a cache which contained six 57mm projectiles rigged as two separate improvised explosive devices; two additional 57mm rounds; a 60mm mortar; a 130mm round and a concrete block hollowed out to fit a 130mm projectile.

A search at another location revealed 2,000 loose rounds of 7.62 ammunition, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers with seven sights, one roll of white double-strand wire used for fabricating IEDs and one AK-47 assault rifle.

Soldiers found and destroyed one IED, as well. The three suspected terrorists detained during the operation were held for further questioning.

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FOR QUERIES, CONTACT MULT-NATIONAL DIVISION - BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAJOR STEVEN LAMB BY E-MAIL AT STEVEN.LAMB@MNDB. ARMY.MIL; OR BY PHONE AT COMMERCIAL (914) 822-8174 OR IRAQNA 011-964-890-192-4674.