Troops in Iraq Capture Three Militants, Discover Weapons

American Forces Press Service

Feb. 1, 2009 - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained three suspects and uncovered weapons caches in Iraq the past four days, military officials said. Coalition and Iraqi forces detained a suspected extremist yesterday during operations in the Abu T'shir community of southern Baghdad's Rashid district.

The suspect, who was wanted for allegedly attacking coalition and Iraqi forces, was in possession of an Uzi automatic weapon at the time of his detention, military officials said. The patrol transported the detainee to a nearby base for additional questioning.

Elsewhere in the Rashid district of Baghdad yesterday, combined forces discovered a weapons cache and unexploded ordnance. The cache consisted of a 60 mm mortar round and two 30-pound containers of potassium nitrate.

During operations in Baghdad Jan. 30, Iraqi forces detained suspected combatants and discovered a cache of weapons.

The two detainees are suspected of participating in robberies, homemade bombing attacks, kidnappings, sniper attacks and planning attacks on voters during the provincial elections, military officials said.

Also in the Iraqi capital Jan. 30, combined forces confiscated six AK-47 assault rifles while conducting operations in the Saydiyah neighborhood in southern Baghdad.

On Jan. 29, troops discovered a weapons cache in the Resala neighborhood west of Baghdad. The cache was composed of three 120mm high explosives and one 130mm projectile.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)