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WASHINGTON, March 16, 2004 – A translator for coalition forces in northern Iraq was killed and two family members were injured today in an attack in Mosul, Iraq.
The translator and the family members were in their vehicle when it was struck by small-arms fire. They were taken to an Iraqi hospital in Mosul. Iraqi police are investigating this attack. "These deliberate attacks show a total disregard for innocent human life," said Brig. Gen. Carter F. Ham, the Task Force Olympia commander in Mosul. "Killing and injuring innocent Iraqi citizens shows the murderous and cynical intent of terrorists to undermine freedom and progress in Iraq." The general expressed condolences to the victims' family and friends. CJTF 7 officials also reported on military operations that took place March 15 and today in northern Iraq with 1st Infantry Division and Task Force Danger as they take over for Task Force Ironhorse. Soldiers conducted 15 patrols. Six were joint operations conducted with the Iraqi police, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and the Department of Border Enforcement. Weapons and equipment confiscated in raids and patrols throughout the Task Force Ironhorse area of operations include 100 antipersonnel mines, seven rocket-launching tubes, 300 pounds of C-4 plastic explosive, 25 tubes of artillery propellant, 25 155 mm artillery rounds, 100 Sabot tank rounds, two anti-aircraft guns, 468 rounds of 12.7 mm anti-aircraft ammunition, 84 boxes of other anti-aircraft ammunition and three improvised explosive devices. A patrol of Task Force Danger soldiers from 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, found a cache of anti-aircraft weapons near Kirkuk today. The cache was transported to the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, for destruction. Tipped off by an Iraqi citizen, 1st Infantry Division soldiers from 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, discovered a cache of ammunition March 15 while on patrol northwest of Samarra. The cache contained 100 Sabot tank rounds, 25 tubes of 155 mm artillery propellant, various small-arms ammunition and 84 boxes of 12.7 mm anti-aircraft ammunition. An explosive-ordnance team destroyed the cache. Soldiers from 1st Squadron also discovered an IED while on patrol March 15 near Tikrit. The soldiers found three holes, about 200 feet of wire and pictures of U.S. tanks and humvees. The holes were filled and the materials removed. The Iraqi police reported that one person was killed and four others were wounded when someone was attempting to make a bomb March 15 inside a house near Baqubah. The wounded were transported to a Baqubah hospital for treatment and will be questioned later by the police. No coalition forces were involved in the incident. (Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 7 news releases.)
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