Multi-National Division-Baghdad air assets engaged more than 20 Al Qaeda insurgents approximately 28 kilometers northwest of Baghdad Sept. 29 after the insurgents fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and small arms at the aircraft. The resulting firefight ended with more than 20 of the Al Qaeda cell members being killed and four of their vehicles being destroyed. Patrolling the skies, aircraft from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division had reported to the scene to observe possible extremist activities in the area based off of a report from local Iraqi Security Volunteers that an Al Qaeda cell was working in the area.
Upon arriving to the scene, the aircraft observed about 25 Al Qaeda personnel carrying AK-47 assault rifles, with one of the men brandishing an RPG, and walking through an area of local shops and into a palm grove. Shortly after spotting the men, the aircraft were fired upon by the insurgent fighters.
The incident took place within the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division’s area of operations where Ironhorse troops from the 2nd “Stallion” Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment have been working alongside the Iraqi Security Volunteers and Iraqi Security Forces to root out Al Qaeda operatives and extremists.