Iraqi Police Turns Over Cache To Coalition Troops
Iraqi SWAT team members discovered a large storehouse of weapons last week. Following on a tip from a local citizen, a huge supply of explosives and weapons were discovered and eventually destroyed.
A SWAT team responded, and disposed of the weapons. Coalition and U.S. Forces extensively trained the SWAT team.
Searching at a suspected extremist home near Muqdadiyah, Iraq police found anti tank explosives, fuses, IED bomb parts, two mortars and dozens of mortar rounds, several rockets and other various explosives were discovered.
A number of sniper positions and observation sites around the house had spent shell cases lying about.
Evidence of digging was found in the back yard, and several large barrels were dug up including a machine gun and a lot of ammo. It is believed there are likely additional caches of weapons still buried, location unknown.
“The action today was a great success,†said Staff Sgt. Andrew Swilling. Sgt Swilling is Squad Leader of 293 MP Company. Soldiers and Troops of 293rd Military Police Company, 728th Battalion, and 3rd Infantry assisted in finding the explosives.
Iraqi Forces provided the lead on the weapons seizure; Coalition Forces provided security and supervision. “It is impressive the different ways that Iraqi Forces are coming into their own, and being able to conduct missions on their own,†said Sgt. Swilling. The Iraqi SWAT team was trained earlier in the year by Coalition forces.
“We got the weapons without any loss of life. The Iraqi SWAT team is proficient and well trained, and did very well,†said Swilling.
