Troops in Iraq Capture Suspects, Weapons

American Forces Press Service

May 7, 2009 - Coalition and Iraqi forces swept up weapons and insurgents during three days of operations in Iraq this week, military officials said. During operations May 5 in southern Iraq's Maysan province, Iraqi forces found a weapons cache containing more than 300 munitions and various military equipment. Troops discovered the contraband inside a house in the city of Amarah.

The Iraqi security units are partnered with the 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, in Maysan in efforts to rid the region of illegal weapons and criminal activity.

In the Mansour and Abu Ghraib districts of northwestern Baghdad on May 4, coalition and Iraqi forces detained two suspects. Troops suspect one of the men of planning attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces as a member of al-Qaida in Iraq. The other is suspected of training and equipping insurgent operations involving grenades. The suspects have been turned over to Iraqi authorities for further questioning, military officials said.

During a joint operation in the Mansour district May 3, coalition and Iraqi forces discovered an RKG-3 armor-piercing grenade while conducting a reconnaissance mission in the area. An explosive ordinance disposal team called to the site disposed of the weapon.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)