BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Soldiers from U.S. Army Europe's Nomad Company, 4th Squadron,
2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and Iraqi security forces seized a number of weapons
caches in the southern portion of the Iraqi capital Oct. 10-14 as part of Operation Dragon
Talon II.
On Oct. 9, Soldiers from Nomad Company, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry
Regiment, while conducting a combined patrol with Iraqi National Police in East Rashid,
discovered the remains of a house that had been deliberately set on fire and burned to the
ground. After talking with neighbors, troops learned that the house belonged to a local
school principal, and that Al Qaeda members had destroyed the house the previous
evening without warning. The principal and his family's whereabouts are currently
unknown.
"Al Qaeda only represents evil, terror and all that is wrong," said Maj. Thomas J. Siebold,
3rd Squadron, 2nd SCR operations officer. "This (act) is an embarrassment to their
countrymen and to all (law abiding citizens)."
Iraqi Security Forces, working in concert with Multi-National Division - Baghdad
Soldiers from the 4th "Dragon" Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
have aggressively pursued extremists throughout the Rashid District, confiscating
weapons and arresting numerous suspects believed to be engaged in anti-coalition
activities.
Seven caches have been seized and 34 detainees taken in operations across Rashid over
the past 72 hours.
"We're sending a clear message to the terrorists that we will not be deterred in our efforts
to improve the security situation here," said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, the "Dragon Brigade"
commander. "Our Iraqi security force counterparts have done a tremendous job of
Highlights of the cache finds include multiple seizures of 107mm rockets, 76mm rockets,
artillery and mortar shells of various calibers and numerous small arms weapons and
ammunition.
responding to enemy attacks and acts of intimidation by seizing sizeable caches of
weapons and taking bad guys off the streets."
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