CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq
Regimental Combat Team 7 concluded a five-day long disruption operation dubbed Al Asad (Lion) Sunday morning. The purpose of the operation was to seek out anti-Iraqi forces who have sought refuge in the Jubba/Baghdadi area, which is nestled along the Euphrates River in the western Al Anbar Province, approximately 130 miles west of Baghdad. The operation further denied insurgents the ability to use the Baghdadi region for refuge and significantly reduced the number of weapons and munitions available to anti- Iraqi forces. Partnered with Iraqi Army soldiers, Marines, sailors and U.S. soldiers from RCT- 7 discovered 80 weapons and munitions caches, a total of more than 62 tons of material. Sixty-five suspected insurgents were detained as well. The discovered caches contained multiple types of weapons and ordnance to include: automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenades, hand grenades, 120mm artillery rounds, 130mm artillery rounds, mortar tubes, 60mm mortar rounds, high explosive anti-tank rounds, 122mm rockets and various other projectile-type munitions, which are commonly used by anti Iraqi forces to kill Iraqi civilians, Iraqi Army and coalition forces. The Iraqi and coalition forces’ presence was well received among the local population. “I spoke with one man and he invited us in for cold water,” said Col. W. Blake Crowe, commanding officer, RCT-7, recounting his visit to the area assessing the community’s needs. “He invited us back and said his village welcomed our presence.” Two insurgents were killed as a result of the operation. Two Iraqi soldiers were killed by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber while manning a security checkpoint near Hit, Iraq, during Operation Al Asad. No Coalition servicemembers were killed as a result of the operation. Iraqi Army soldiers and RCT-7 will continue to maintain presence and persist in our efforts to provide a secure environment in western Al Anbar Province.