Centcom Press Release - Feb 7

MULTI-NATIONAL SOLDIERS RECOVER LARGE CACHE
Multi-National forces seized a large weapon and bomb-making cache in Abu Ghraib, west of the Iraq Capital on February 4th. Soldiers from 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment were conducting search operations in the area as part of an ongoing operation when the unit recovered (13) 120 mm mortar rounds, (132) 82 mm mortar rounds, (51) 60 mm mortar rounds, (3) cans of 120 mm mortar fuses, (23) boxes of mortar fuses, (3) mortar sights, (35) 82 mm mortar primers, (6) 60 mm mortar primers, (22) 40 mm mortar primers, a 120 mm tube, (130) blasting caps, (30) rifle rocket-propelled grenades, (24) RPG warheads, an RPG sight, (2) bags of RPG propellant, (12) RPG propellants, (4) artillery fuses, (4) anti-personnel mines, (2) 57 mm rockets, (126) fragmentation grenades, (3) Russian grenades, (600) yards of detonation cord, a variety of machine guns, (7) cell phones, (4) IED switches, (26) 30 mm anti-aircraft rounds and (17) .50 cal rounds. An explosive ordnance disposal unit destroyed the cache with a controlled detonation. "This was significant cache find," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, MND-B spokesman. "The recovery and destruction of these items does contribute to the overall security of the Iraqi people - our number one priority."


COALITION FORCES KILL 2 TERRORISTS; WOMAN KILLED
Coalition Forces conducted an intelligence-driven operation on Tuesday in Ad Dawr, Iraq, in pursuit of an al-Qaeda terrorist. The forces approached the target house and, upon attempting entry, were confronted by a man who fired at the soldiers. The ground force returned fire, and the individual continued to fire at Coalition Forces through a window, slightly wounding one soldier. The ground force called for the occupants of the house to come out multiple times, but were ignored. Ground forces then entered the house and cleared the first two rooms without encountering any enemy. As forces entered a third room, an armed man was holding a woman as a human shield and aiming his weapon at the soldiers. Disregarding his personal safety, a soldier was able to push the woman aside and engage and kill the terrorist.

Seeing another armed man in the room and perceiving hostile intent, the soldier engaged and killed the individual. Once the enemy was neutralized, the soldiers swept the house and found a woman and young girl who appeared to have been shot during the initial engagement. The woman was dead, and the girl had been shot in the legs. A military medic began treating the child prior to evacuating her to a military medical facility. Three other women were also found unharmed in the house.