Coalition forces discovered a large weapons cache in the Tahrir district of Baqouba, Iraq, March 15.

Soldiers from the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division discovered rocket-propelled grenade launchers on the roof of a home while on a routine patrol. The rooftop is connected to another home where the Soldiers found a mortar tube, additional RPG rounds and numerous mortar rounds hidden a barrel buried in the courtyard.

The cache included mortar rounds, RPG rounds, RPG launchers, a mortar tube, an AK-47 rifle, and numerous Ak-47 magazines and rounds. The munitions were destroyed in a controlled detonation at a nearby joint combat outpost.

The resident of the first house was detained by the Soldiers.

Since the beginning of March, Coalition troops have discovered several significant caches in the Baquba-area. They have also detained several known IED and suicide-vest cell members, including two suspected female suicide bombers.

“Coalition Forces in Baqouba continue to relentlessly pursue insurgent activity, continue to find caches and disrupt AQI cells, and will continue to detain all individuals associated with illegal movement of weapons.” said Maj. John Burpo, an operations officer. “Local nationals and our recent detainees continue to provide intelligence on insurgent networks in greater numbers, and recent successes are indicative of AQIs weakening position in Baqouba.”

Attacks against CF, Iraqi Security Forces and civilians in Baqouba – the former AQI stronghold – have decreased by more than 80 percent since June 2007.

MNF-I

MNF-I

Multi-National Division – North Soldiers killed seven terrorists during a firefight east of Khan Bani Sa’ad, Iraq, in the early morning hours of Feb. 25.

Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., were ambushed while conducting an operation to capture a known al-Qaeda in Iraq operative. When the Soldiers closed within 30 feet of the target house, they came under attack by small arms fire and grenades. Three MND-N Soldiers were injured in the initial attack.

The troops, shielding the wounded with their bodies, returned fire, killing three terrorists. A scout weapons team observed several more fighters fleeing the target house and engaged them with rockets, killing four.

Two suspected AQI were detained, including the targeted AQI member.

“Everyone fell back on the training, and no one panicked,” said Staff Sgt. Carl VanDyke, section leader, 2nd Platoon, Troop C, 2-1 Cav., who was one of the Soldiers involved the attack. “Everyone was calm and engaged the enemy bravely. This was an example of great teamwork between the ground and air units.”

The wounded Soldiers are in stable condition at Coalition hospitals.

DVIDS
Story by Pfc. Kirby Rider

The early morning mission conducted by Iraqi army and coalition forces on Feb. 8 brought them into an area that was believed to be a former al-Qaida in Iraq stronghold to look for weapon caches and to kill or capture any remaining AQI.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., working side-by-side with Iraqi army soldiers cleared the towns of Big and Small Windiyah along with al-Saiyid, Iraq, a village to the south.

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