MNFI Press Release - May 19

MND-B SOLDIERS PREVENT IED ATTACK, SEIZE MUNITIONS
MultiNational Division – Baghdad Soldiers killed an IED emplacer and seized munitions in Baghdad on May 18th. Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, discovered the weapons cache on the rooftop of a building during a dismounted patrol in the Shurta area of West Rashid at approximately 3:35 p.m. Soldiers found (30) 120 mm mortar rounds, (12) 60 mm mortar rounds, (120) pounds of homemade explosives, several rocket-propelled grenade rounds, an SKS rifle, an RPG launcher, (10) mortar fuses, (30) shotgun shells, a hand grenade, two electric blasting caps, a Tommy gun, IED-making materials, and numerous Iraqi Army and Police uniforms.

At approximately 9:40 p.m. north of Baghdad, Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, witnessed a criminal emplacing an IED. Soldiers fired at the criminal and killed him. “Taking these weapons out of the hands of those seeking to harm the Iraqi people and Iraqi Security and Coalition forces saved countless lives,” said Col. Allen Batschelet, chief of staff, Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division. “Our Soldiers remain ‘Steadfast and Loyal’ in removing these threats,” he said, invoking the division motto.

ISOF DETAINS 2 TERRORISTS IN BAGHDAD
Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) detained two terrorists in the al-Ghazaliya area of Baghdad on May 18th. ISOF conducted the operation to detain al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) terrorists suspected of murder, kidnapping, emplacing IEDs, and forcing local Iraqis out of their homes. One of the men is suspected of murdering a 24-year-old woman on December 10th, 2007. AQI in this area of Baghdad is responsible for numerous kidnappings and murders of local Iraqi citizens.

3 AL-QAEDA SUSPECTS DETAINED IN BAGHDAD, MOSUL
Coalition Forces targeted the AQI facilitation network during operations in two major cities on Monday, detaining three suspected terrorists. Using information obtained from operations on April 3rd and May 11th, Coalition Forces targeted a foreign terrorist facilitator believed to operate in Mosul and detained two suspected terrorists. In Baghdad, Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist during an operation targeting a suicide bombing facilitator.

IRAQI RESIDENTS TURN IN MUNITIONS TO IA; MND-B SOLDIERS ELIMINATE THREAT
Local residents turned in a variety of munitions to Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers in the New Baghdad district of Baghdad on May 17th. At approximately 2:50 p.m., the Iraqi Army soldiers were conducting an “amnesty drop” mission and were distributing food and water to local residents when they were approached by several civilians, reportedly from the nearby Sadr City district. The civilians turned in (6) 155 mm rounds, (2) 120 mm rounds, (1) 127 mm rocket and (1) 57 mm rocket. The citizens indicated they were taking the initiative, showing they want peace and an end to the violence. The munitions were taken to a nearby Joint Security Station for disposal.

Also in New Baghdad at approximately 12:20 a.m. on May 18th, MultiNational Division – Baghdad (MND-B) soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, observed an armed man exiting a vehicle near their position. The man armed the weapon and took aim at the MND-B observation point. The soldiers defended themselves and killed the man. “Our soldiers are true professionals,” said Col. Allen Batschelet, chief of staff, MND–B and the 4th Infantry Division. “They took quick, decisive action and eliminated the threat to themselves and the local community.”