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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070920-02
September 20, 2007

Air assault nets IED cell leader
Multi-National Division – Center PAO

BARAB JABOUR  —  Coalition troops air assaulted into a farm field south of Baghdad and captured the leader of an al-Qaeda improvised explosive device-making cell Sept. 14.
 
Soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, captured the IED cell leader and seven other suspected insurgents during building clearing operations south of Patrol Base Murray.
 
Upon landing in a barren farm field, Soldiers made their way through deeply rutted muddy fields to their first target house.
 
The mission was designed to secure the area around the prospective location of Patrol Base Hawkes, a new patrol base being constructed in Arab Jabour.
 
Once the perimeter of the building was secure and the residents were asked to come outside, Anderson and his Soldiers began the process of identifying the group.
 
The IED cell leader was the first person identified.
 
First platoon detained seven men, in the same building, who were also suspected of involvement in the IED cell.
 
Anderson said disrupting this cell was key because the area where he and his Soldiers were clearing buildings was known for a high number of IEDs targeting Coalition Forces.
 
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