A midnight mission by combined U.S. and Iraqi army forces resulted in 12 men being detained for questioning on suspicion of terrorist activity. Soldiers of 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., and 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, joined forces to clear the villages near al-Owesat and al-Thobat, Iraq, July 14.
During Polar Tempest, tipsters gave the Coalition Forces viable information. The night began with Soldiers clearing houses, when an Iraqi man who claimed to know where several terrorists lived in the area led them to various places. As the patrol moved along, the Soldiers encountered small-arms fire and shot back, killing a terrorist. Three men fled, but Soldiers seized an AK-47 and an ammunition vest.
The Iraqi man guiding the Soldiers said he believed they had encountered the lead element of a larger group of anti-Iraqi forces. As the Coalition Forces and IA forces continued clearing houses in the area, the man pointed out one of the residents as a terrorist. In another house a male claimed to know where a high-value target lived. As Coalition Forces followed him, several local residents began to flee in vehicles. They were stopped and detained.
As troops searched the areas near the Euphrates River, they came across two small boats at a water-pumping station. The Soldiers destroyed the boats. They also found an improvised explosive device, which was disarmed and thrown into the river. Its another operation in which we received good information from a local source, said Maj. Robert Griggs, a native of Stockton, Calif., who serves as the 4-31 operations officer. It really shows that the people in the area are tired of the terrorists.
It also shows that we have a very capable Iraqi army unit to take on these complex missions. We brought all our assets to bear, with the UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and attack aviation. Were still looking for our missing Soldiers, and any information leading to them. We also want to help the residents of this area have a more stable Iraq. Twelve detainees were taken to Coalition bases for further questioning. During the searches, Soldiers also found a Dragunov sniper rifle magazine, a grenade, and an unidentified rifle. 
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