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

Iraqi Army nets large weapons haul
Multi-National Division - SouthEast PAO

BASRA, Iraq – Iraqi Army soldiers from the 14th Iraqi Army Division netted a large haul of weapons and ammunition in operations across Basra and in the nearby town of Az Zubayr June 6.
 
In more than a 24-hour period, the Division’s 51st, 52nd and 53rd brigades seized 330 mortar rounds, 104 small arms, 20 hand grenades, 72 rockets, 3 rocket launchers and 17 RPGs. The brigades also seized 37 various improvised explosive devices.

At the same time, Iraqi Police were able to secure a truck-load of mortar and artillery shells discovered in previous weeks.
 
The operations were a sign of how the continuing confidence from the success of Operation Charge of The Knights is still paying security dividends to the people of Basra.
 
“This operation was 100 percent planned by the Iraqi Army, and though the UK MiTT teams were present, there was no requirement for them to get involved,” said Capt. Chris Ford, a spokesman for the Multi-National Division - SouthEast). “For MND-SE, this is enormously gratifying as it shows the Division we are mentoring and who we trained on urban operations are able to take operations right from the planning stage all the way through execution successfully. Every one of these successful operations brings more security to Basra and brings Basra closer to its bright future.”
 
Since the beginning of Charge of the Knights, Iraqi Security Forces have seized more than 4,000 mortar rounds, more than 600 rockets and more than 1,500 small arms.

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