Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070418-08
April 18, 2007

Multi-National Division - North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq - Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces continued operations in Buhriz, Iraq, Monday, clearing the Baqubah neighborhood of terrorist cells responsible for murders, kidnappings and emplacing improvised explosive devices.

Soldiers from the Iraqi police Emergency Reaction Force Two, 2nd Battalion, 5th Iraqi Army Division, and the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted an early-morning air assault into Buhriz, resulting in five caches being seized, seven detainees and one terrorist killed.

The caches included items such as hand grenades, small-arms munitions, artillery rounds and IED-making material.

"The sustained and continuous operations by the ISF and Coalition are the response to a need for persistent, aggressive operations to defeat anti-Iraqi forces operating inside Diyala," said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala Province. "The people's response is an added confidence in their security forces, resulting in increased calls to the TIPS line and direct information and intelligence on terrorist resources.

"The response by four tribes to these operations is a peace agreement in principle to stop antagonistic actions against each others people," Sutherland added. "The people understand their future is in the stability offered by their ISF and not in the depth of despair offered by terrorists."

According to the unit, one of the seven detainees is "a known al-Qaida emir." The detainees have been transferred to a facility for further questioning.

ISF, partnered with CF, are maintaining a permanent presence within Buhriz to ensure the population remains secure.

"There is a 'strength through unity' campaign being waged by the people, the ISF, the tribal leaders and the government of Diyala, to bring security to the province. The Coalition will support all peaceful factions," Sutherland said.


A Soldier with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment watches a Chinook helicopter land April 16. The battalion air assaulted into a farming area south of Baqubah in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Soldiers with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment load onto Chinook helicopters April 16. The battalion air assaulted into a farming area south of Baqubah in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Soldiers with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment travel in a Chinook helicopter en-route to a mission April 16. The battalion air assaulted into a farming area south of Baqubah in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Soldiers with Company A, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment overwatch fellow Soldiers moving through a farming community south of Baqubah April 16. The battalion air assaulted into the area in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Soldiers with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment move toward a Chinook helicopter south of Baqubah April 17. The battalion air assaulted into the farming community in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)




FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION - NORTH AT:
TFLIGHTNING.PAO-AT-US.ARMY.MIL

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, 5-20 Infantry