Release Date: 9/28/2007
Release Number: 07-01-03P

Soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment “Polar Bears,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) discovered the cache while conducting Operation Rock Sweep V and VI.

The purpose of the mission was to target specified al-Qaeda operatives identified to be planning and coordinating attacks against Coalition Forces and concerned local citizens in the area.

While conducting the operation, Soldiers searched the targets’ houses looking for illegal weapons.

In one house they discovered a cache that consisted of three blasting caps, a ski mask, a terrorist manual which included directions on constructing vehicle improvised explosive devices, propaganda featuring the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, two cell phones and a card to activate the cell phones.

The propaganda was a small booklet featuring images of the attacks and a script praising the attacks.

“Our assessment is that these guys were getting ready to launch attacks during the Ramadan celebration,” said Lt. Thomas Ceislak, battle captain for 4-31 Inf. Regt. “We got the intelligence for this raid from earlier questioning of detainees and from tips provided by our source network”

The owner of the house was detained and is being held for questioning.

The blasting caps were destroyed during a controlled detonation and the other items are being inspected for further intelligence value.


FOR QUERIES, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT MND-CENTER_PAO-AT-IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL OR BY PHONE AT DSN 318-822-7482 OR COMMERCIAL 912-767-4114.

Labels: "Polar Bears", 10th Mountain Division, 4-31 Infantry, 9/11, CENTCOM, Iraq, Operation Rock Sweep V, Operation Rock Sweep VI, terrorism, US Army