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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070629-07
June 29, 2007

Clearing Continues:  Dragons interdict IEDs, capture Iranian rocket materials
4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops, all members of the 4th “Dragons” Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, found a cache of Iranian-made rocket materials, stopped the emplacement of an improvised explosive device and detained numerous suspected terrorists during operations in the Rashid District June 27-28.
 
On June 27, the “Black Lions” of Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, found a cache of Iranian-made rocket parts in Aamel.
 
The cache consisted of several empty 107mm cases with the same lot numbers as those seized June 17, one rocket launcher, materials to build more than 50 launchers, 13 60mm mortar rounds, one 81mm mortar, rocket-propelled grenades, a large quantity of homemade and plastic explosives, a bag of shotgun shells, two bags of loose 7.62 rounds, one light anti-tank weapon, three assault rifles, one optical sight and an assortment of initiators and grenades.
 
Also on June 27, troops from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade, currently operating in the Rashid District under the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, witnessed a suspicious person digging a hole in an area where IEDs have been previously placed.  The troops opened fire. The digger and two other individuals supervising nearby were injured.
 
The individual digging the hole was a teenager.  He was taken to a Coalition medical facility for treatment. All three suspects were detained for further questioning. 
 
Also that day, members of 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt., detained four more suspects. 
 
In operations June 28, MND-B troops killed three insurgents, wounding two and detained 10 suspects.
 
In Risalah, a patrol from 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment “Vanguards” began to take fire from two machine guns. The patrol returned fire, killing both insurgents and confiscating their PKC machine guns.
 
During that same operation, the Vanguards captured an alleged IED cell member with known connections to Jaish Al-Mahdi leaders.
 
A few hours later, an insurgent was killed and three Iraqis wounded when three teenagers tried to breach a checkpoint on a tractor. When the three were stopped and tried to flee one raised an AK-47 and MND-B troops opened fire killing the gunman. The two others were not targeted, but were hit by stray rounds. A girl was hit by a ricochet round, treated for her injuries at the scene and was released.
 
Also on June 28, Soldiers of 1st Bn., 38th Infantry detained six suspected terrorists, one of them believed to be a financier of a local terrorist cell.

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