Operation Eagle Thunder III nets detainees, weapons

2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) PAO

MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — U.S. and Iraqi forces detained nine suspected terrorists and discovered weapons in Mahmudiyah Wednesday.
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., detained the suspected terrorists and discovered the weapons during Operation Eagle Thunder III, an operation intended to prevent enemy attacks against coalition forces.
During the operation, Soldiers cleared and searched areas within Mahmudiyah, concentrating on the canals.
While conducting searches of the area, Soldiers found a weapons cache in the reed lines that consisted of homemade grenades.
Also discovered during the operation were two improvised explosive devices.
The suspected terrorists were detained for suspicious activity and are being held for further questioning.
The weapons were destroyed during a controlled detonation conducted by the explosive ordnance team.