Saturday, October 20, 2007

Infantry Company captures al-Qaeda cell members, clears buildings

By Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs,

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Eleven people were detained and 49 buildings cleared Oct. 16 during Operation Belleau Wood II, an intensive search north of Salman Pak to capture or kill al-Qaeda and insurgents operating in the area.

“Acting on local tips, we were able to disrupt an al-Qaeda IED cell,” said 1st Lt. Clifford Cieslak, from Pasadena, Md., fire support officer for Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment.

Leaders are optimistic the capture of the cell will allow 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers and Iraqi Security Forces to better secure the area and allow the local population to continue improving governmental functions, Cieslak explained.

Soldiers from Company A, 1-15 Inf. Regt., detained the men after they were identified as possible insurgents responsible for attacks against 3rd HBCT. Improvised explosive device materials, two AK-47 assault rifles, a shotgun and ammunition were found during the search.