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WASHINGTON, March 20, 2005 – A Task Force Liberty soldier was killed and three soldiers were wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated near Kirkuk today.
The soldiers were part of a patrol. The wounded were evacuated to a coalition forces medical facility for treatment. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Also today, 24 terrorists were killed and seven wounded when they attacked coalition forces on the outskirts of Baghdad. Six coalition soldiers were injured during the attack; no further word was reported on their condition or treatment. In southern Baghdad, Task Force Baghdad soldiers took two suspected terrorists into custody after two 120 mm rounds struck a vehicle convoy today. There were no injuries. In a separate incident, the task force's soldiers detained eight terrorist suspects, three of whom were carrying Iraqi police badges. Only one badge was verified in the Iraqi police database. Along with the suspects, three 9 mm pistols and two AK-47 assault rifles were confiscated. Only one suspect had a weapons permit. The detainees are in U.S. custody. In other news today, Task Force Baghdad soldiers detained one third-country national suspected of terrorist activity after receiving a tip from a local citizen. The suspect was found in a house in central Iraq along with wire cutters, a device to measure electrical current and voltage, one .22-caliber pistol, $200 in U.S. currency and passports. The detainee is in U.S. custody for further questioning. Earlier in the day, the task force found more than five 122 mm rounds by in the middle of a road, and an improvised explosive device was discovered by an explosive ordnance disposal team north of Baghdad. Both the rounds and the mine were safely detonated. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, also discovered a land mine in western Baghdad today. An EOD team safely recovered the mine. On March 19, Task Force Baghdad soldiers, acting on intelligence reports, uncovered 24 60 mm mortar initiators that appeared to have been freshly buried. Troops cordoned off the area prior to beginning the search and cleared the site of all IEDs. (Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq press releases.)
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