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Friday, March 21, 2008

Good News from Iraq: 21 Mar 2008

From MNF-I, Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces recover large weapons cache (Hawijah).

BALAD, Iraq – The 4th Iraqi Division Army, advised by U.S. Special Forces, recovered a large weapons cache linked to al Qaeda in Iraq during an operation in Hawijah, Kirkuk province, March 16.

Acting on intelligence reports, Iraqi Scouts and U.S. SF conducted a combined patrol where a cache was reported to be hidden.

This operation led to approximately 150 munitions and explosive devices being uncovered, along with more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition and a large amount of AQI propaganda.

Also recovered were several pamphlets on improvised explosive device construction. The propaganda, comprised of DVDs, cassette tapes and pamphlets, and other documents linked the cache to AQI and foreign fighters traveling from Syria into Iraq.

The cache included four suicide vests, 24 rocket propelled grenades, 61 60mm mortar rounds, nine 120mm mortar rounds, 45 81mm mortar rounds, two 155mm artillery rounds, five grenades, two pressure wire initiation systems, six RPG launchers, two machine guns, a 60mm mortar system, 100 feet of detonation cord, blasting caps, several cell phones and radios for initiating IEDs, and more than 100 pieces of material used for constructing IEDs and their initiation systems.