4th Bn., 320th FA Regt., finds large cache, detains four terrorists

Soldiers of Battery A, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, seized a large cache of explosives and captured four terrorists in Adhamiyah in a predawn raid Aug. 4.

Operation Guinness, a battalion level operation which was part of Operation Together Forward, a Multi-National Division - Baghdad operation, concentrating on disrupting murders, kidnappings and bombings in Baghdad. The suspects detained are believed to have launched bombing attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces.

At about 3 a.m., Battery A Soldiers cordoned off the neighborhood surrounding the house pointed out by a tip. Four individuals were in the residence and were detained. The Soldiers searched the house and found 130 anti-personnel mines, one anti-tank mine rigged as an improvised-explosive device, one stick of rocket-propelled grenade propellant, an RPG launcher, 25 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition and various other bomb making materials. A U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team secured the explosives.

"We received some very specific intelligence that led us to the site. A Battery led by Capt. (Michael) Stewart, executed the mission flawlessly with assistance from the EOD team," said Lt. Col. Kevin Milton, commander, 4-320th FAR.

Pivotal to the operation was the blending of various skill sets to bring the right forces to the battle.

"Operation Guinness was an excellent example of intelligence driven operations that integrated all available asset. Our leaders integrated military working dogs, human intelligence teams, attack air, Combat Camera and EOD," said Maj. Bruce Coyne, operations officer, who provided battalion-level coordination at the site of the operation. "After detailed rehearsals, the battery commander maintained momentum through precise command and control of his assets," Coyne added.

"We have rehearsed and executed raids like this many times, and we were able to enter and search the target house quickly and smoothly," said Capt. Michael Stewart, commander, Batt. A. "Our Soldiers are simply the best in the profession, and we can do this anytime, anywhere," said Stewart.

Neither the suspected terrorists nor any Coalition Soldiers were injured during this operation.

Investigation into this incident by Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces continues.

"This mission was a victory for our unit and the people of Iraq," said Coyne.

Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq

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