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FOB RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq, August 3, 2006 - Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldiers of 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, and 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, along with elements of the 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, captured east Baghdad's third highest "most wanted" terrorist in Adhamiyah during a precision operation Sunday. The actions were part of Operation Together Forward, a Multi-National Division - Baghdad operation, concentrating on disrupting murders, kidnappings and bombings in Baghdad. The suspect taken into custody is believed to lead criminal elements, which have conducted deadly road side bombings against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces, as well as sectarian murders and kidnappings that resulted in murder. He is believed to act as a financier, planner and director of those criminal activities in east Baghdad. In a combined mid-morning cordon and search operation, soldiers from Troop B, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment discovered the individual at a hospital complex in Adhamiyah. This marks the second high-value capture for the brigade in the past week as 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, captured another individual July 25. "In a thorough search of a building with a lot of people in it, the attention to detail at the soldier level accounts for this capture. The soldiers knew who they were looking for and methodically found him," said LTC Brian Winski, commander, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, who was present at the site for the operation. During the search, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment soldiers were attacked by sniper fire but sustained no injuries. "The key to success was all of the junior officers and noncommissioned officers who were able to make good decisions based on the intent of the operation," added CPT Will Arnold, commander, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment. "This was a combined operation with 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division soldiers, together with (MND-B)," said Winski. All the pieces came together from the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion providing quality military intelligence and then to our intelligence officer, CPT Jason Lucero, and his guys cross-referencing the situation on the ground to that data. Neither the suspected terrorist nor any Coalition or Iraqi soldiers were injured during this operation. The incident is currently under investigation by Iraqi authorities. |
