Multi-National Corps - Iraq Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory APO AE 09342
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071014-14
October 14, 2007
Operation Dragon Talon II: Cache seizures made in Rashid
4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs Multi-National Division - Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD - Despite Al Qaeda operatives burning down the house of an Iraqi civilian, Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division-Baghdad troops continued Operation Dragon Talon II with numerous cache seizures in the southern portion of the Iraqi capital Oct. 10-14.
On Oct. 9, Soldiers from Nomad Company, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, while conducting a combined patrol with Iraqi National Police in East Rashid, discovered the remains of a house that had been deliberately set on fire and burned to the ground. After talking with neighbors, troops discovered that the house belonged to a local school principal. Residents also reported that members of Al Qaeda had come to the house the previous evening and destroyed it without warning. The principal and his family’s whereabouts are currently unknown.
“Al Qaeda only represents evil, terror and all that is wrong,” said Maj. Thomas J. Siebold, 3rd Squadron, 2nd SCR operations officer. “This (act) is an embarrassment to their countrymen and to all (law abiding citizens).”
Since the destroyed house was discovered, Iraqi Security Forces, working in concert with MND-B Soldiers assigned to the 4th “Dragon” Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division have aggressively pursued extremists throughout the Rashid District, confiscating weapons and arresting numerous suspects believed to be engaged in anti-Coalition activities. A total of seven caches have been seized and 34 detainees taken in operations across Rashid over the past 72 hours.
“We’re sending a clear message to the terrorists that we will not be deterred in our efforts to improve the security situation here,” said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, the Dragon Brigade commander. “Our Iraqi Security Force counterparts have done a tremendous job of responding to enemy attacks and acts of intimidation by seizing sizeable caches of weapons and taking bad guys off the streets.”
Highlights of the cache finds include multiple seizures of 107mm rockets, 76mm rockets, artillery and mortar shells of various calibers and numerous small arms weapons and ammunition.
