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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070107-09
Jan. 7, 2007

Suspects detained, weapons taken, locals assisted
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Elements of Multi-National Division-Baghdad, along with Iraqi Army elements, conducted a clearing operation designed to disrupt insurgent activities and deny urban support zones to terrorists from Jan. 1 to Jan. 5 in Hurriya, a northwestern neighborhood of the Iraqi capital.
 
While conducting an operation, elements from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division detained 16 suspected insurgents, found seven illegal weapons caches and conducted a civilian medical assistance operation.
 
Soldiers confiscated illegal arms to include: 13 rocket propelled-grenade launchers, 17 AK-47’s with 20 AK-47 magazines, five rifles, two machine guns, 19 pistols, six mortars, and 12 blocks of C-4 explosives.   They also seized three rocket-propelled grenades, two rocket-propelled grenade stabilizer shafts, and six rocket-propelled grenade booster rockets, along with identification cards, maps, insurgent propaganda, and 3.25 million Iraqi Dinar and $2,200 in U.S. currency.

In addition to making the area safer by getting illegal weapons off the street, the troops also aided the local community.

With the support of Task Force 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, Iraqi troops provided medical care to the local population.  Iraqi medics treated and gave medication out to approximately 2,000 Iraqi civilians during this operation.
 
Iraqi Army personnel also handed out blankets to those waiting in line, and passed out candy, soccer balls, stickers and gum to the waiting children who were waiting with their parents. 

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR HIGH-RES PHOTOS, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS NCO IN CHARGE, MASTER SGT. DAVID LARSEN BY E-MAIL AT: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; OR BY PHONE AT COMMERCIAL: (914) 822-8174, OR IRAQNA: 011-964-790-192-4675.