MAALEF, Iraq – Based on information gathered from a source, soldiers from the 2nd
Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, supported by Soldiers from the 5th
Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, uncovered a cache of illegal weapons Feb. 26
near the village of Maalef.

The cache was buried in various plastic containers and refrigerators arrayed in a 200
meter radius circle and contained the following:

• Eight anti-personnel landmines
• 14 mortar tubes of various sizes to include 60, 82, and 120mm
• Seven assorted hand grenades
• 194 mortar rounds of various sizes to include 60,82, and 120mm
• 18 rocket-propelled grenade launchers
• 153 57mm rockets
• Five 81mm rockets
• Two 107mm rockets
• Two SA-7 launchers
• Two IP vests, one with plates, and one with a detonation button rigged as a
suicide vest
• Almost 200 fuzes of various sizes
• Assorted bags of propellant, rolls of wire, and blasting caps

“The Iraqi Army was truly in the lead in the discovery of this cache,” said Col.
Stephen Twitty, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “It
resulted from exploitation of intelligence gained from one of their detainees captured in
an earlier raid.”

Soldiers from the 5-82 FA assisted the IA in removal of the weapons and with an
explosive ordnance disposal team on site to coordinate reduction.

“The large volume of weapons found here was clearly intended for use against the
[Iraqi security forces], Coalition forces and the people of Iraq. The anti-Iraqi forces need
to realize that the Iraqi Army and Coalition forces will stop them, and will protect the
Iraqi people from them.”