Marines Arrest Suspect Aiming Rocket System at Base Camp

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2005 – Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrested nine suspected insurgents during operations in western Anbar province today.

One of those arrested was part of a group seen setting up an improvised rocket system aimed at a U.S. Marine camp nearby. Marines observed seven individuals emplacing the system near their position and requested close-air support.

Three 107 mm rockets, with time-delay devices prepped for launch toward Camp Korean Village, were destroyed.

In detaining the one individual at a housing complex nearby, the Marines discovered four AK-47 assault rifles and 2,460 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

Over the past 48 hours, elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted two other operations that netted the other eight suspected insurgents in western Anbar.

In Sadah, Marines and U.S. soldiers conducting cordon and knock operations detained six suspected insurgents involved in improvised explosive device and mine-emplacing activities.

Two more individuals were detained after Marines conducted a limited-scale raid in Hit to disrupt insurgent activities there.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)