Iraq Operations Result in Captures, Arms-Cache Discovery

Six Iraqi civilians, including five children, were injured during a terrorist attack near a soccer field in Tal Afar June 17. Terrorists were attacking a nearby Iraqi security-force post with mortar and small-arms fire. The injured civilians were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

In northern Iraq, three terror attacks over two days injured 14 Iraqi civilians. These attacks either directly targeted or totally disregarded civilian lives, coalition officials said.

In and around Mosul, U.S. soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) and Task Force Freedom detained nine suspected terrorists and seized a number of weapons during operations June 17 and 18. Soldiers detained eight individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a cordon-and-search operation in southern Mosul June 18. Other soldiers detained one individual suspected of terrorist activity and seized weapons during a cordon-and-search operation.

Soldiers killed one terrorist and injured another after their convoy was attacked with small-arms fire in northern Mosul June 18. The soldiers detained the injured terrorist following treatment and seized a number of weapons from the terrorists' vehicle.

Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment seized a weapons cache during a search operation east of Mosul. Suspects are in custody with no coalition injuries reported.

Soldiers deployed with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force uncovered a large weapons cache northeast of Yusafiyah. The soldiers seized and destroyed 60 rocket rounds, 88 mortar rounds, two 57 mm improvised rocket launchers, four 125 mm artillery rounds, 100 projectile fuses, 21 rocket-propelled grenades, a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, two rifles, two blasting caps, 500 7.62 mm rifle/light machine gun rounds, 400 12.7 mm machine gun rounds, a 122 mm rocket warhead, a 2.75 mm rocket warhead, and a "missile infantry light anti-tank" guided missile.

In Baghdad, multinational forces conducted operations to capture a reported bomber who worked for the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi terrorist network in Iraq. Though the individual in question fled prior to the forces raiding the home, they did seize a substantial weapons cache.

Weapons and extremist items found at the home included: two S5K launchers, two modified S5K rounds, five rocket-propelled grenades, seven RPG launchers, five PG-7 85 mm rounds, four PG-7m 70 mm rounds, 16 PG-7 propellant charges, 11 AK-47 rifles, more than 50 ammunition magazines, 5,000 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, three RPK machine guns, 5,500 rounds of RPK ammunition, six RGD-5 Russian-made fragmentation grenades, and nine AK magazine vests. Most of the weapons were found packed into four large bags. Twelve "terrorist masks" and various extremist materials were also found at the home.

The soldiers also found a variety of bomb-making materials and explosives, including one large improvised explosive device ready to be employed, in the home. There was also a variety of remote-controlled bomb-initiation devices found, to include 15 walkie-talkies, five cordless telephones, and various circuit boards, resistors, transistors and batteries. A video camera, which officials believe was used to film attacks, was also found.

Two suspected terrorists were found at the location, and both engaged coalition forces with small-arms fire. The soldiers returned the fire, killing one and wounding the other. Multinational forces took the wounded suspect into custody, and his wounds were treated. He is currently being held and questioned by multinational forces.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Task Force Baghdad news releases.)