Published: March 24, 2006

Operation Swarmer Concludes

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TIKRIT, Iraq - The combined operation involving Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police commandos and Coalition Forces wrapped up Wednesday without any casualties and all of the tactical objectives met.

The mission began with the helicopter transport of approximately 1,500 Iraqi and Coalition Soldiers and Iraqi police commandos into a 10-by-10 square mile area northeast of Samarra March 16. The initial insertion aircraft and subsequent air security provided by the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade moved the force comprised of units from the 1st Commando Brigade, the 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.

The combined force moved through the area using intelligence and planning provided primarily by the Iraqi Security Forces. The operation resulted in 104 suspected insurgents currently being detained and questioned, and 24 caches discovered.

The caches included:

Six shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles

Over 350 mortar rounds and three mortar systems

26 artillery rounds

A variety of IED-making materials and other military items

Over 120 rockets

Over 3200 rounds of small-arms ammunition

86 rocket-propelled grenades and 28 launchers

Six landmines

12 hand grenades and 40 rifle grenades

34 rifles and machineguns of various types

All of the detainees are currently held in secured locations undergoing questioning.