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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070704-15
July 4, 2007

MND-B aircrews thwart rocket attack on IZ
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division-Baghdad attack helicopter crews engaged a group of terrorists attempting to fire a rocket toward the International Zone at approximately 10 p.m. July 2 in eastern Baghdad.
 
Apache crews from 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, were conducting aerial reconnaissance when they spotted terrorists emplacing a rocket in the eastern Baghdad Sadr City District aimed toward the International Zone.  The Apache crews gained positive identification of 10-15 terrorists who dispersed as the Apache crews closed in on their position.
 
The Apache crews got clearance to fire from the ground unit and engaged a van and two sedans in which the terrorists fled the site. The crews also fired on the rocket system. The engagement resulted in three enemy vehicles and a rocket system destroyed. 

NOTE – Video ‘B-Roll’ depicting this engagement in Sadr City July 2 is available upon request from the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS) by calling (678) 421-6604.  For more information about this advisory, contact SGM Len Harris, by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
- The video begins with insurgents gathered around a rocket tube pointed at the International Zone in a location just north of Sadr City, where recent indirect fire attacks have originated.  The video then shows the rocket, aimed at the IZ.  After emplacing the rocket system, insurgent get into a van and begin driving away from the location.  Coalition Force attack aviation assets engage the van, destroying it.
- In the next sequence, attack aviation assets re-engage the rocket system, destroying it.  The rocket can be seen “cooking off.”
- Two other vehicles, sedans, were engaged and destroyed in the next sequence.

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