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Operation River Gate Update
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Approximately 350 Iraqi Security Force Soldiers and 2,500 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors from Regimental Combat Team - 2 continued Operation Bawwabatu Annaher, or River Gate, in the cities of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana Oct. 6.
Iraqi Security Forces and Marines were attacked with a roadside bomb in Haditha late afternoon Oct. 5. Examination of the blast site revealed electrical wiring leading to Qaryat al Khadfah mosque. Iraqi Soldiers and Marines discovered the initiating device for the explosive inside the mosque. In addition, numerous artillery rounds, pre-wired and ready to use as roadside bombs, were hidden on the mosque grounds. No Iraqi Soldiers or Marines were injured by the bomb's blast.
Iraqi Soldiers and U.S. Marines and Soldiers are clearing the three Euphrates River Valley cities. In the past 24 hours, the combined Iraqi and U.S. forces have discovered two weapons caches, one in Haqlaniyah and the other in Haditha, consisting of more than 40 mortar and artillery rounds, two complete mortar systems, small-arms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
On the morning of Oct. 6, Marines discovered an insurgent-planted improvised explosive device. Upon conducting a controlled detonation of the device, electrical service was disrupted in Haqlaniyah and Bani Dahir due to the bomb's proximity to an electrical source. Marines are working with local officials to restore electrical service in those towns.
Iraqi Soldiers are continuing to provide security for Haditha General Hospital's patients and personnel.
Since Operation River Gate began, Iraqi Soldiers and U.S. forces have located 10 improvised explosive devices.
The operation's goal is to deny al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists the ability to operate in the three Euphrates River Valley cities and to free the local citizens from the insurgents' campaign of murder and intimidation of innocent women, children and men.
Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq
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