Soldiers discover murder victims as operations continue

Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers discovered the bodies of 18 murder victims inside an abandoned vehicle at about 9:30 p.m. March 7 in the Al Mansour district of Baghdad.

Soldiers from 10th Mountain Division received a report about a suspicious vehicle on the side of the road and approached the vehicle to investigate. The Soldiers found the victims' bodies while conducting the search.

The Iraqi Police have launched an investigation.

In other news, one hundred twenty-two male detainees were released from Theater Internment Facilities in Iraq March 8. The Combined Review and Release Board reviewed their cases and recommended release.

The Iraqi-led board, established in August 2004, consists of members from the Ministries of Human Rights, Justice and Interior, as well as officers from the Multi-National Forces.

To date, the board has reviewed the cases of more than 30,000 detainees and recommended releasing more than 15,400 individuals.

As Iraqi security force members develop their capabilities and refine their skills, they have increased their presence and have had several major operational successes. One example came March 6 when Iraqi Counterterrorism Forces freed one hostage and detained two suspects.

Soldiers from the 1st Iraqi Special Operations Forces Brigade planned and conducted the assault that freed an Iraqi government official

This is the type of mission for which they train, said one senior U.S. Special Operations Forces advisor responsible for training the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Task Force.

"They were able to execute quickly and make timely decisions on the ground," the advisor said. "It provided an outstanding situation in which to showcase the abilities of the unit."

U.S. Special Operations Forces help train and advise the Iraqi Special Operations Forces Brigade and other Iraqi security forces, including army and police units.

Elsewhere, Coalition Forces raided an improvised explosive device manufacturing site 10 miles east of Fallujah March 7.

The IED site was discovered in an Al Qaeda-in-Iraq safe house. Soldiers destroyed all equipment and explosives in place and detained five men during the raid.

Reconstruction continues to change the face of Iraq as contractors rebuild the country's infrastructure. Citizens in Najaf, for instance, now have potable water, thanks to the completion of a $212,000 project overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The new al Shwalah Water Treatment Facility is capable of treating more than 63,000 gallons of water daily, and will supply up to 10,000 people.

A larger project still under development In Diyala is the Mandali Irrigation Pumping Station and Pipeline Project. When completed, the project will provide water to more than 1,200 acres of farmland and as well as a water treatment facility serving 65,000 people.

Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq

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