During the past 24 hours, the 82nd Airborne Division and subordinate units have conducted 161 patrols, including 10 joint patrols with the Iraqi Border Guard and Iraqi Police. During these operations, 63 enemy personnel were captured and one killed while suffering no U.S. casualties.
In the 82d Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade area of operations, paratroopers conducted a cordon and search in Nassir Wa Al Salaam to capture six members of a Wahabbist cell. Thirteen enemy personnel were captured and taken into custody for questioning. Also, several small arms weapons, various munitions, military uniforms, U.S. and Iraqi cash, counterfeit money, and improvised explosive device (IED)- making materials were confiscated during the mission.
"You got some 'splainin', to do, Mahmoud!"
"It is not ours, effendi! Somebody left it here!" |
In the 1st Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division’s area of operations, elements were attacked with rocket propelled grenades (RPG) and small arms fire northwest of Khalidiyah. The unit returned fire at the point of origin and then engaged the house with three 120mm High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds. The unit killed one enemy and captured eight others without suffering any injuries to personnel or damage to equipment.
| "Ahmed, goddammit! I've told you and told you, don't engage infidel tanks from the house! But do you listen? NO! You don't listen! Just look at this mess? Who's gonna clean up this mess? Are you gonna clean up this mess? NO! You ain't gonna clean up this mess! You're gonna be sittin' in jug, eating three times a day, while yer poor old Mum gets to rebuild the second story, and her with a bad back..." |
In 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment’s (3rd ACR) area of operations, elements executed raids on six target houses in Husaybah. The operation was conducted in response to information provided by an informant who indicated that a few Fedayeen members had returned to the area following the conclusion of Operation Rifles Blitz.
| "Are they gone yet, Mahmoud?" |
Houses identified in the area were sites of recent enemy ambushes. The raids resulted in the capture of 19 enemy personnel and the confiscation of various small arms weapons, IED-making materials, and a logbook of previous attacks against Coalition forces.
"Ahmed, make sure you write down every nasty thing you do to the infidels. That way we can all chuckle over it later."
"Uhhh... Hokay, boss! It ain't like they're gonna catch me and use it for evidence against me. Huh huh!"
"He said 'evidence'! Huh huh!" |
The town of Husaybah, once the most hostile city in the Al Qaim area, has shown marked improvement in the form of fewer attacks following Operation Rifles Blitz.
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