MNFI Press Release - Sept 27

IP, IA, COALITION SOLDIERS SEIZE WEAPONS CACHES
Iraqi Police (IP) and Muliti-National Soldiers seized weapons caches in the Baghdad area on September 26th. Soldiers serving with Company A, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, found a weapons cache in the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad at approximately 9 a.m. The munitions consisted of (9) AK-47 rifles, (6) grenades, (2) cans of blasting caps, (2) Iraqi Police uniforms, (10) digital cameras and a VHS camcorder.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., IP serving with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, found a cache in the West Rashid District of Baghdad. The munitions included (10) 60 mm mortar rounds, (6) Iranian-manufactured 81 mm mortar rounds, (9) 82 mm mortar rounds, (1) white phosphorous 82 mm mortar round, (1) 120 mm mortar round, (1) 100 mm high-explosive projectile, (13) 85 mm rounds, (2) Iranian-manufactured anti-tank rounds, (1) Iranian manufactured AT-1 PG-7, (8) expelling charges, (3) hand grenades, (1) mills bomb, propellant for the PG-7, (1) improvised grenade, (1) 6-inch long improvised-explosive device filled with approximately 1.5 pounds of explosives, (1) IED encased in foam consisting of (2) 82 mm mortar rounds, (1) 57 mm projectile and (1) bottle of homemade explosives.

With the help from a tip from a local citizen, Soldiers serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, found (6) 107 mm rounds in a canal northwest of Baghdad at approximately 9:15 p.m.

Approximately two hours later, northwest of Baghdad, IA soldiers serving with the 4th Battalion, 24th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, found what appeared to be (5) jugs of nitrogen and called for an assessment by EOD. An EOD team from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, identified the the materials as (4) five-gallon jugs of diesel fuel and (1) five gallon jug of sugar, which were likely to be used as a bomb inside a house.

“Through the combined efforts of Iraqi Policemen, Iraqi Soldiers, an Iraqi citizen, and Coalition Soldiers, a substantial amount of munitions were removed as potential threats by militants and extremists who continue to attempt to disrupt the lives of innocent Iraqi civilians,” said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman for Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division. “The ISF and MND-B forces dedication to safeguarding local residents continues to pay huge dividends in helping secure the peace in Baghdad.”

COALITION FORCES DETAIN 12 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS
A dozen suspected terrorists were captured on Saturday as Coalition forces continued to cripple the ability of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) to conduct violent terrorist activities. During five coordinated operations in Mosul and nearby Al Qasr (about 15 km southeast of Mosul), forces zeroed in on AQI vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) networks Saturday. They were targeting a wanted man believed to have planned and executed multiple car bomb attacks against Iraqi citizens and Coalition forces. Five suspected terrorists assessed to be associates of the wanted man were captured during the raids.

Also on Saturday, Coalition forces detained two suspects during an operation 80 km southeast of Kirkuk, while targeting a wanted man who intelligence reports suggest is an AQI operative with various connections to AQI regional leaders. Additionally, the wanted man is allegedly involved in information gathering operations used to plan attacks against Iraqi security and Coalition forces in the area. Acting on tips from detainees already in custody, Coalition forces also targeted senior AQI leadership networks in Bayji on Saturday, approximately 160 km south of Mosul. Three suspects were apprehended during the operation. Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists during a raid on Saturday 116 km northeast of Baghdad. The detainees are believed to be associated with regional AQI leaders in Northern Diyala.

COALITION CATCHES 5 KATA'IB HEZBOLLAH SUSPECTS
Coalition forces apprehended five members of the Kata'ib Hezbollah network on Saturday morning in new Baghdad. Acting on intelligence information, Coalition forces targeted suspected criminals linked to recent rocket attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces. Kata'ib Hezbollah funnels weapons and materiel into Iraq from Iran, which is then used to conduct attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces. Coalition members captured the five suspects in three separate locations without incident. Coalition forces have captured more than 30 Kata'ib Hezbollah criminals in the last two months. Kata'ib Hezbollah is assessed to be a proxy of Iran, and its members are believed to employ improvised rocket assisted mortars as well as explosively formed penetrators in civilian areas.