Security Operations Continue in Fallujah
American Forces Press Service
FALLUJAH, Iraq, Oct. 18, 2004 -- Troops from Multinational Force Iraq continued
increased security operations Oct. 17 to isolate anti-Iraqi forces in Fallujah.
Officials said the operations were designed to disrupt the enemy fighters'
ability to "plan, coordinate and execute criminal acts against the Iraqi people
and government."
Iraqi security forces and U.S. Marines with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force
continue to man positions outside the city and have established vehicle
checkpoints. Since Oct. 14, the combined force has conducted coordinated
actions to locate, isolate and defeat terrorist groups, officials said. The
effort is part of an operation to stop terrorists from conducting attacks
throughout Iraq.
During operations Oct. 17, Marines returned insurgent small-arms, fire, mortar
and rocket-propelled-grenade fire. The Marines engaged with small-arms fire,
crew-served weapons, main tank guns, and artillery. The attack originated from
positions and buildings in eastern and southern Fallujah, U.S. military
officials said.
Insurgents then fired accurate and sustained small arms fire that escalated to
heavy machine-gun and indirect fire during a firefight lasting just over nine
hours.
After close-air support was requested and several precision-guided munitions
were dropped, insurgents were seen putting their mortar tubes into a taxi and
pickup trucks then driving to a mosque. Witnesses saw them entering the mosque.
Marines did not fire upon the mosque.
The strikes successfully took out the buildings in which insurgents were
located. Other strikes interdicted mortar teams and anti-Iraqi forces,
officials said. Multiple fighter aircraft, expending various types of
precision munitions, were used on more than 10 insurgent positions. The air
strikes began late morning and continued into the afternoon.
"MNF-I is committed to assisting the Iraqi Interim Government in stabilizing
the country and setting the conditions for a revitalized and independent Iraq,"
a spokesman said.
(From a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)
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