United States Marine Corps

Press Release
Public Affairs Office
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Capt. David Nevers

Contact: neversde@24meufwd.usmc.mil

Release # 1012-04-1044

Iraqu SWAT, Marines kill 2 AID, capture 10 south of Baghdad
Oct 11, 2004

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq -- The Iraqi SWAT team, backed by elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, killed two insurgents and seized 10 more suspects in a skirmish near the south-central Iraqi city of Lutafiyah today.

The combined force came under small-arms fire en route to a suspected insurgent safehouse. After quickly repelling the attack, the force pressed ahead toward the objective, where Iraqi SWAT members detained 10 individuals.

One Marine suffered minor injuries during the mission.

Today’s actions raised to more than 100 the number of suspected insurgents captured in Northern Babil province since Oct. 5, when Iraqi and U.S. forces launched a fresh operation to capture or kill anti-Iraqi forces and disrupt their activity.

During the past week, ISF, U.S. Marines and elements of an Army Stryker Brigade conducted numerous precision raids and cordon-and-knock searches throughout the province. They stepped up their patrols and swept through several key cities south of Baghdad, including Lutatifyah, Mahmudiyah, Yusufiyah, Iskandariyah, Haswah and Musayyib.

In seizing control of the Jurf As Sakhr Bridge, which spans the Euphrates River southwest of Baghdad, U.S. forces began choking off insurgent mobility. The bridge is believed to be a favored corridor for insurgents moving into and out of key cities, including the capital hub and the current AIF stronghold of Fallujah.

In addition to rounding up scores of wanted individuals and many other targets of opportunity, the combined force uncovered four weapons stockpiles and took hundreds of mortars, rockets, grenades, rifles, and IED-making materials out of action.

While operations continue, ISF and Marines here have already observed clear signs that they have disrupted enemy activity and wrested the initiative in a number of would-be insurgent sanctuaries.


The operation has involved more than 2,000 U.S. and Iraqi forces, including elements from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines -- the MEU's ground combat element, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, the Army's 1-23 Stryker Battalion, Iraq's 2nd Ministry of the Interior Commando Battalion, the 507th Iraqi National Guard Battalion, and the Iraqi SWAT team.

In their coordinated thrusts this week, the ISF and Marines began intensifying operations they've been conducting since the 24th MEU arrived in Northern Babil in July. The ISF are playing a steadily growing role in a mutual effort to restore security and stability to the nearly 1 million citizens of the province.

For more information, contact Capt. David Nevers at neversde@24meufwd.usmc.mil, or visit the unit's Web site at www.usmc.mil/24meu.


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Text-only version of release attached below:


IRAQI SWAT, MARINES KILL 2 AIF, CAPTURE 10 SOUTH OF BAGHDAD.txt