Basra Update June 7 2008
Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured a suspected Special Groups criminal in al-Amarah, a city northeast of Basra, June 5.
The ISOF conducted the operation to capture the suspected criminal who reportedly had weapons caches in and around his home containing Katyushka rockets, AK-47 assault rifles and suppressors for various pistols.
Iraqi Security Forces found six caches containing more than 100 rockets, 200 mortars, 60 anti-aircraft rockets, three launchers, 30 Improvised Explosives Devices, 90 AK-47 Assault Rifles, 20 grenades, 10 RPGs and various other weapons during raids in Basra June 6.
The 52nd Brigade, Iraqi Army, found a cache 20 kilometers northwest of Basra consisting of 106 122 mm rockets, seven charges, 80 82 mm mortars, 28 mortar charges, 37 IEDs, 66 anti-aircraft rockets and one rocket launcher.
The 50th Bde., Iraqi Army, found a cache three kilometers northeast of Basra that contained 128 82 mm mortar rounds, seven 120 mm mortar rounds, nine 60 mm mortar rounds, 20 hand grenades, two SBG-9 rockets and two Austrian launchers.
The 51st Bde., Iraqi Army found two caches in Az Zubayr, 13 kilometers southwest of Basra. The first one contained 63 AK-47s, four semi-automatic rifles, three bolt-action rifles, seven pistols, one anti-tank rocket and two anti-personnel rockets. The second cache consisted of 35 AK-47s and two anti-personnel rockets.
The Iraqi Police found a truck with 300 unserviceable artillery and mortar rounds and 60 hand grenades.
The 50 Bde, IA also found a cache of mortar and artillery rounds. The ordinance was assessed to be unstable and the exact contents can’t be determined.
Iraqi Army soldiers from the 14th Iraqi Army Division netted a large haul of weapons and ammunition in operations across Basra and in the nearby town of Az Zubayr June 6.
In more than a 24-hour period, the Division’s 51st, 52nd and 53rd brigades seized 330 mortar rounds, 104 small arms, 20 hand grenades, 72 rockets, 3 rocket launchers and 17 RPGs. The brigades also seized 37 various improvised explosive devices.
At the same time, Iraqi Police were able to secure a truck-load of mortar and artillery shells discovered in previous weeks.
The operations were a sign of how the continuing confidence from the success of Operation Charge of The Knights is still paying security dividends to the people of Basra.
“This operation was 100 percent planned by the Iraqi Army, and though the UK MiTT teams were present, there was no requirement for them to get involved,†said Capt. Chris Ford, a spokesman for the Multi-National Division – SouthEast). “For MND-SE, this is enormously gratifying as it shows the Division we are mentoring and who we trained on urban operations are able to take operations right from the planning stage all the way through execution successfully. Every one of these successful operations brings more security to Basra and brings Basra closer to its bright future.â€
Since the beginning of Charge of the Knights, Iraqi Security Forces have seized more than 4,000 mortar rounds, more than 600 rockets and more than 1,500 small arms.
Table of contents for Sadr Revolt 2008
- Moqtada al-Sadr Starts to Fight
- Sadr Revolt 3-26-2008 am
- Sadr’s Revolt 3-27-2008
- 67 Terrorists Killed
- Iran Backing Sadr Revolt in Iraq
- Sadr Revolt 3-28-2008 early am
- Sadr Revolt 3-28-2008 pm
- Media Mavens Mistake Military Moves
- Sadr Revolt 3-30-2008 am
- Sadr Orders Halt to Revolt
- Iraqi Special Operations Forces kill 14 criminals in Basra
- Kadhamiyah Cleans Up After Sadr Fight
- Brits in Basra – Crack Shots
- Iraqi Army seizes caches in mosque, hospital
- MND-SE holds memorial for fallen Marine
- Iraqis Continue Basra Cleanup
- Iraqis Continue Sadr City Cleanup
- Basra Update June 7 2008
- Chief Warrant Officer Ronald C. Ivy
