Insurgents Continue Attacks on Iraqi Targets

In another attack, five mortars struck about 400 meters from the Iraqi police station in Mahawil Jan. 10. Officials reported no casualties or damage in this attack.

Two Iraqi civilian women were killed and six people were wounded near Abu Ghraib prison at about 1 p.m. today when insurgents launched three mortar rounds. A U.S. Marine patrol responded to the site of the impacts. After investigating the site, the patrol reported that the impacts are consistent with those made by 120 mm mortar rounds.

"The enemies of Iraq destroy police stations, power lines and bridges," a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman said in a statement. "The will attack anyone who is working for progress (in) Iraq."

Since Jan. 10, multinational and Iraqi forces have detained at least 54 suspected insurgents throughout Iraq. Specific incidences include:

In two separate raids, elements of the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division's 2nd "Commando" Brigade Combat Team detained two suspected insurgent cell leaders in western Baghdad today. The first cell leader is believed to be responsible for financing terrorist activities and weapons dealing. The second is believed to be responsible for leading mortar attacks against the interim Iraqi government and multinational forces.

Jan. 10, multinational forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), detained two individuals suspected of anti-Iraqi activity in northern Iraq. Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, were searching a vehicle at a checkpoint west of Mosul when they discovered multiple rounds of ammunition scattered throughout the vehicle. The two people in the vehicle were found to have explosive residue on their clothes.

Soldiers from Task Force Danger and the Iraqi army detained a suspected anti- Iraqi fighter during a raid in Khalis at about 11:00 p.m. Jan. 10. The detainee is in Iraqi police custody.

Multinational forces inspecting a car lot found a suspicious vehicle. Initial investigation of seven males inside the vehicle found that all had evidence of explosives on them.

Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit caught two insurgents attempting to emplace a roadside bomb near Forward Operating Base Kalsu, south of Baghdad, on Jan. 10. When the two men saw the Marines coming, they jumped in their car and tried to flee, but the Marines stopped the vehicle and detained them.

Earlier Jan. 10, Iraqi soldiers and elements of the 24th MEU had captured two suspected insurgents in a raid near Iskandariyah.

No multinational forces were reported injured in these incidents. Multinational Force officials in Baghdad reported that Iraqi and coalition forces have detained at least 75 individuals since Jan. 5.

"We will continue to hunt down these murderers and criminals," Army Maj. Web Wright, public affairs officer for 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, said after today's raids. "We will not let up the pressure. The Iraqi people deserve the right to choose their government, and we will continue to work with local leaders and the Iraqi Security Forces to bring these terrorists to justice."

In other news from Iraq, Iraqi police found the body Jan. 10 of a suspected insurgent who died when the IED he was emplacing exploded. The man had propaganda opposing the upcoming Iraqi elections in his pockets.

Troops from Multinational Force Iraq discovered and cleared 10 improvised explosive devices and nine weapons caches on Jan. 10.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)