U.S. Soldier Killed by Car Bomb; Marines' Offensive Continues
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2004 -- Two car bombs detonated in eastern Baghdad, Iraq,
today, killing one American soldier, according to a Multinational Force Iraq
news release.
The first blast targeted a Multinational Force convoy about 7:15 a.m. in
eastern Baghdad. One Task Force Baghdad soldier was medically evacuated but
died at a nearby military hospital.
A second car bomb detonated an hour later, in a southern section of the Thawra
district, the release said. Initial reports from the scene indicate that three
Iraqis were killed in the blast. No MNF-I soldiers or equipment were involved
in the second incident.
On Oct. 9, a Marine assigned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed in
action while conducting security and stability operations in the Anbar
Province.
First MEF force-protection measures preclude the release of any information
that could aid enemy personnel in assessing the effectiveness of tactics,
techniques and procedures.
In other news from Iraq, Iraqi security forces and elements of the 24th Marine
Expeditionary Unit continued their surge in northern Babil province today,
rounding up 15 more suspected insurgents and seizing additional enemy weapons.
In a precision raid 30 miles south of Baghdad, members of an Iraqi SWAT team
and the MEU's force reconnaissance platoon captured a man wanted in connection
with attacks on multinational forces. During a follow-up sweep through
Iskandariyah, Iraqi SWAT members picked up 11 additional individuals from their
target list.
They also found seven mortar rounds, eight AK47 rifles and a 9mm pistol.
Several miles east of Iskandariyah, Marines from Company C, Battalion Landing
Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines -- the MEU's ground-combat element -- detained
three suspected insurgents during a cordon-and-knock search.
Meanwhile, MEU forces operating in the unit's northern sector reported several
insurgent mortar and rocket attacks in the vicinity of Yusufiyah.
The Marines immediately counter-attacked after verifying the points of origin
for several of the attacks. There were no MNF casualties or damage to the
Marines' equipment during the exchange. Enemy casualties could not be
determined, officials said.
Today's actions raised to 78 the number of suspected anti-Iraqi fighters
captured during the current operation, which was launched Oct. 5 by Iraqi and
multinational forces in northern Babil in an intensifying campaign to capture
or kill insurgents and disrupt their activity.
More than 1,300 multinational and 800 Iraqi forces are actively involved in the
current operation, part of an increasingly cooperative effort to restore
security and stability to the area, officials said.
In a separate operation, U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division soldiers from Task
Force 1-77 detained seven anti-Iraqi fighters near Balad on Oct. 9 after
finding weapons in their possession. The seven are being held for questioning.
A search of the house they were in led to the confiscation of a weapons cache
consisting of four AK47 rifles, 11 full AK47 magazines, two rocket-propelled-
grenade sights, one flare gun, one 7.62mm ammunition drum, 240 7.62mm armor-
piercing incendiary rounds, one pistol belt, one bandoleer, and 2 million Iraqi
dinars.
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