Task Force Captures Arms Dealers, Confiscates
Illegal Arms
AR
RAMADI, Iraq (CENTCOM)- During the past 24 hours, the 82nd
Airborne Division and subordinate elements, also known as Task
Force “All-American,” conducted 167 patrols, five
of which were joint patrols with Iraqis, and carried out 5 offensive
operations.
During these operations, three enemy personnel
were killed and 70 were captured. Entry was denied to 225 people
at the border crossing at Trebil – all due to insufficient
documentation. No one was turned away at Tanif, Husaybh, or Ar
Ar.
Operation Market Sweep, an offensive operation
that occurred in 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division’s area,
was a cordon and search aimed at capturing weapons dealers and
confiscating weapons in a suspected arms market in Fallujah. The
operation resulted in the capture of 55 enemies, including five
targeted individuals. The soldiers confiscated three 60-millimeter
mortars, four 82-millimeter mortars, 400 mortar fuses, 160 mortar
rounds of various sizes, 184 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) rounds,
80 RPG boosters, four RPG launchers, seven AT-5 missiles, two
Milan AT missiles, 18 57-millimeter rockets, four rockets, 17
pre-made improvised explosive devices (IEDs), four cases of TNT,
105 small arms weapons, over 8,500 rounds of ammunition, 244 grenades,
and four Italian mines. The success of the mission will greatly
improve the security of the Fallujah region and create a safer
environment for Coalition soldiers and the area’s residents.
In another operation, paratroopers from 3rd Brigade
conducted a cordon and search in a small town named Al Zedon.
The operation was carried out with the local Iraqi police and
resulted in the confiscation of 200 RPG rounds, eight RPG launchers,
three 155-millimeter artillery rounds, 64 14-millimeter rounds,
60 60-millimeter charges, and 5,800 machine gun rounds.
In 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment’s area,
soldiers discovered a cache site along the Euphrates River near
Haditha. The cache consisted of 12 AK-47s, an RPK, and a 4-pound
bag of gunpowder. The equipment was confiscated and the unit established
overwatch to observe the cache site. Later that night, during
hours of curfew, three personnel arrived at the cache site and
were engaged with direct fire, which killed all three.