Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Houston | Rocket-propelled grenades and RPG launchers are lined up in rows as part of the 9th...... read more read more
Sgt. Whitney Houston
Multi-National Division - Baghdad
BAGHDAD – The Iraqi army's 9th Division displayed a huge collection of weapons and explosives seized by Iraqi soldiers in the Sadr City district of Baghdad at the Al Rasheed Airbase June 18.
The 9th IA Div. confiscated the astonishing array of weapons and explosives in operations that kicked off May 20.
After a brief ceremony in which Gen. Abud Qanbar, the commander of the Baghdad Operations Command, cut a ribbon to begin the walk-through inspection of the arms, the massive collection was open for Iraqi Security Forces, Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers and members of the media to observe and bear witness to the vast amount of munitions and weapons taken off the street and out of the hands of extremists and militants.
The arsenal included 145 explosively formed penetrators, 11 EFP plates, 258 improvised-explosive devices, 51 rockets, 598 mortar rounds, 224 artillery rounds, 511 rocket-propelled grenades and more than 1,400 rifles.
"We haven't had to do anything for them," said Marine Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Calvert, who works and lives with the Iraqi quick reaction force for 3rd Brigade, 9th IA Div., as part of a military transition team. "They are fully capable of doing these things all by themselves. This is indicative of what the Iraqi Army can and will do with the cooperation of the Iraqi people."
Iraqi army leaders said they felt a key to their success was the willingness of the local-area residents to provide them with the vital information needed to remove the dangerous weapons and munitions from the area.
"The people of Sadr City were a big help to us in getting rid of all these criminal elements. These criminals were killing our children, and innocent people," said Lt. Col. Ahmad Adl Al-Hassan who serves with the 9th IA Div.
The Iraqi army's success helped to establish a valuable bond of trust as well with the local population.
"When the people of Sadr city see the Iraqi army, it makes them very happy. They deem them as a godsend to protect them from the militia that threaten their lives and steal their money," explained Lt. Col. Nameer Esam, who is a special forces officer with the Iraqi ground forces command. He worked with the 9th IA Div. in capturing some of the weapons.
"Every morning, when everyone was sleeping, they would cordon off one to four sectors a day and then recon the area. We check everywhere to ensure that Sadr City is safe," he said.
Efforts such as these to confiscate weapons and plan detailed missions are continued evidence of the increased efficiency of Iraq's army to make Baghdad a more secure and stable place for the people – one cache at a time.
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2008 14:11 |
| Story ID: | 20723 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 249 |
| Downloads: | 128 |
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