September 6, 2007

5th Iraqi Army Uncovers Caches Thanks to a Tip.

A tip by a concerned citizen led Iraqi Army units from the 5th Iraqi Army to caches in Diyala’s River Valley:

BAQOUBA, Iraq – After receiving information about the whereabouts of weapons caches from a concerned local national during operations Sept. 2 and 3, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army, unearthed three weapons caches in Mukhisa village.

“The caches were a significant discovery for the 5th Iraqi Army,” said Staff Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem, commander of Iraqi Security Forces in Diyala province. “It is a sign of their confidence and abilities; and also shows the people are getting tired of the terrorists.”

The caches were all hidden from sight and would have been more difficult to discover without the information from the concerned citizen who provided the intelligence and information.

The first cache was hidden in a mud hut which is reported to be used as an al-Qaida operation center. The IA discovered 10 rocket-propelled grenade launchers with 16 additional rounds.

The second cache primarily consisted of small-arms munitions buried in a large water container.

Sixty-eight cases of DSHKA machine gun rounds were also discovered, significantly reducing the enemies’ capabilities to conduct small-arms fire attacks.

Also discovered in a 300 gallon water tank, the third cache contained 21 unknown rockets, nine cases of DSHKA ammunition, 6,000 loose PKC rounds and one RPG sight.

“We will continue to attack the terrorist elements that disrupt normal lives for the Iraqi people and we will support the good people of Diyala,” Abdul continued. “The discovery of these weapons will greatly reduce the terrorists’ ability to attack and create harm.”

Baqouba, you'll remember is the site where LTC Johnson operates with the 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, and also the home of the Baqouba Guardians. What was once the capital of alQaeda in Iraq is now a place where the insurgents are not welcome. Despite what Sen Schumer has said, these results are not becauase the locals saw no other options, but because the locals finally realized that the US Forces were their friends in this.

The Iraqis know who their friends are in this fight for they named the police station after the man who masterminded the liberation of Ramadi from al-Qaeda, US Army Captain Travis Patriquin.

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