Date: 2007-06-21
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Published by: CENTCOM
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, who are currently attached to 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, seized multiple caches June 17 near Tuwaitha as a part of Coalition Forces' efforts to eliminate insurgent sanctuaries southeast of Baghdad.
(Media-Newswire.com) - FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, who are currently attached to 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, seized multiple caches June 17 near Tuwaitha as a part of Coalition Forces' efforts to eliminate insurgent sanctuaries southeast of Baghdad.
The unit conducted Operation Destroyer Strike based on intelligence gathered from local citizens. The operation was a part of a larger effort, Operation Marne Torch, being conducted by Multi-National Division-Center.
"In that area, there are a lot of people frustrated with sectarian violence and Al Qaeda," said Capt. Troy Thomas, of Oregon, a staff officer with 3-1 Cav. "They are just fed up with it."
Troops cleared two target locations to seize caches and disrupt insurgent activity. Four individuals were detained attempting to flee at the first objective. One of the detainees is suspected of making road-side bombs for Al Qaeda, while another provided additional information on cache sites.
"All of the information provided by the informant coincided with previously collected intelligence," said Thomas.
Thomas further explained that the intelligence led to six additional searches and the detention of a suspected sniper believed to be working for the Mahdi Army.
Capt. Brian Gilbert, Co. D commander, of Boise, Idaho, was in command of all Soldiers in the operation, and has almost daily contact with local leaders and members of the city council. Gilbert spoke with local citizens and city council members following the operation.
"We talked to pretty much everybody that lives there and they were happy to see us," said Gilbert. "They were specifically happy about us showing our commitment to their security and taking the bad guys off the street."
Gilbert explained that the first objective was a large farm. Its owner was killed by Al Qaeda, according to local citizens, who also claim that Al Qaeda fighters used the farm as a training area.
Items found in the cache included 54 mortar rounds, two artillery rounds, 29 cell phones, 29 nine-volt battery connectors and more than 20 circuit boards - all commonly used in the manufacturing of improvised explosive devices. Four rockets, five AK-47 assault rifles, a .50-caliber machine gun, and Iraqi Security Forces' body armor were also found.
The 3-1 Cav. and the 1-15 Inf. are assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga.
FOR QUERIES, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION - CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT MND-CENTER_PAO@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL OR BY PHONE AT DSN 318-822-7482 OR COMMERCIAL 912-767-4114.