Commando Brigade seizes terrorist outpost

2nd BCT PAO, 10th Mtn. Div.

YUSUFIYAH, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, occupied the Yusufiyah thermal power plant at approximately 2 a.m. Monday; the plant is located on the Euphrates River, near Sadr al Yusufiyah, approximately 25 miles southwest of Baghdad.
The operation was carried out as part of Operation Commando Hunter, with the intent to deny al Qaeda in Iraq, former regime elements and foreign fighters sanctuary within the Euphrates River valley.
Intelligence indicates terrorists used the area as a safe haven to stage attacks against the government of Iraq and Coalition Forces.
The power plant is an unfinished project that dates back to the Saddam Hussein regime. Construction on the facility was started by Russian contractors but abandoned when the Baathist government defaulted on payments. Terrorists allegedly took over the structure.
Earlier phases of the operation resulted in the capture of more than 130 weapons caches throughout the Mahmudiyah, Yusufiyah and Shakariah Triangle. Among the weapons seized were heavy anti-aircraft machine guns, aircraft bombs and improvised-explosive device making materials.
There were no MND-B casualties during the assault.
All efforts were planned into the operation to ensure no civilians were harmed during the operation. In an effort to prevent civilian casualties, Soldiers conducted the military operation at a period of time when Iraqi citizens would be at home with their families.