Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071009-04
Stryker Soldiers making East Rashid safer
Multi-National Division - Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD - Troops from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment discovered several improvised explosive devices during clearing operations in the East Rashid District of the Iraqi capital Oct. 8.
The eastern Baghdad operations are aimed at clearing out the al-Qaeda in Iraq presence in the area.
Troops from Company H “Hawks” of 3rd Squadron, 2nd SCR found a command-wired 82mm mortar IED and a deep-buried IED in their sector, while the Company G “Ghost Riders” reported one IED exploding in their sector. There was no damage or casualties reported from that blast.
The Ghost Riders also discovered a building rigged to explode. The IED detonated without causing any casualties and damaging only the building where it was found.
The 3-2nd SCR’s “Iron” Company received a tip that there was an IED alongside a road in their sector; an explosive ordnance disposal team robot approached the IED and it detonated. There were no casualties or damage from the blast.
Several small weapons caches were also discovered during clearing operations in eastern Baghdad, including a shotgun, a 9mm pistol, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers and more than 250 rounds of small arms ammunition. Also found were five Iraqi Army uniforms, brass knuckles, two knives and various bomb-making materials.
“The bottom line, al-Qaeda isn’t welcome in East Rashid,” said Maj. Scott Pendell, a spokesperson for the 2nd SCR. “They won’t find a place to hide here.”
In early afternoon, Iron Company came under small arms fire while conducting combat operations in the area. An Apache air weapons team from Multi-National Division - Baghdad’s 1st Air Cavalry Brigade came on station to assist the unit.
The Apaches fired one Hellfire missile into a building where the small arms fire was originating. The small arms fire attack stopped. There was no collateral damage reported in from this event.
