Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071007-15
October 8, 2007

MND-B forces bomb terrorist ambush sites, indirect fire points in East Rashid 
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division -- Baghdad forces launched an air strike into dense palm groves being used by terrorist forces as staging areas and safe havens in southern Baghdad Oct. 8.

The palm groves, located in a rural area along the western edge of the Tigris River in the East Rashid District, were believed to be actively used by anti-Coalition forces since 2005 to emplace roadside bombs, fire mortars and rockets against Iraqi and Coalition targets and infiltrate weapons, materiel and personnel into Baghdad.

In recent weeks, the palm groves are believed to have been used to stage combined roadside bomb and small arms fire ambushes using the dense foliage as concealment to move in and out of position in order to stage the attacks.

MND-B forces delivered multiple precision bombs from the air into the historic ambush sites and mortar/rocket launching points.

No casualties were reported as a result of these attacks.

“The successful strike reminds the terrorists once again that we know where they operate,” said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, whose forces conducted the operation. “Should they continue to use the palm groves to launch attacks on our forces and innocent Iraqis, they do so at their own peril.”

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