24th MEU takes bridge as part of operation

[SR-25]

For the past two months, most of Camp Lejeune's 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has worked to take charge in northern Babil Province south of Baghdad as part of two-month operation punctuated by a thrust north over the past week.

The MEU, which left Lejeune in July, is trying to cut off routes used by terrorists and Iraqi insurgents, MEU spokesman Capt. Dave Nevers said by telephone during a lull in the fighting at about 1:30 a.m. Iraqi time.

Nevers said Marine forces took control of a bridge over the Euphrates River. It's also seized a large cache of weapons with help from the reserve 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment.

"We've seen unmistakable signs that the bridge was used by anti-Iraq units to reach a temporary safe haven to rest and re-arm. It was an avenue to move explosives and munitions with which to disrupt (Iraqi) efforts at security," Nevers said. "An opportunity presented itself to go and take it, and that's exactly what we did."

U.S. forces stepped up action over the weekend, Nevers said.

"We rounded up (some) enemy military in Operation Phantom Fury and seized a suspected enemy training camp," Nevers said.

During the action, troops captured 15 suspected insurgents. Iraqi SWAT members took 11 more people from their "target list" into custody, seizing all their weapons. The action raised to 78 the number of suspected anti-Iraqi forces captured during the Operation Phantom Fury, which was launched Oct. 5.

"Most of them end very peaceably with very little resistance," Nevers said.

MEU forces suffered a few casualties, Nevers said. Three Marines from the Battalion Landing Team were injured on Oct. 4 when they encountered machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenade. No injuries were life-threatening.

Nevers said the MEU's small craft company has been pulling security patrols along the Euphrates River.

"Colonel (Ron) Johnson seized the opportunity to put them on the water and give us an avenue of approach while denying the enemy the use of the river," Nevers said. "They've already made an impact and they've already been engaged (with the enemy). They're one more arrow in our quiver."

Nevers said that over the past two months, Marines have captured 160 criminals and anti-Iraqi forces.

"Last week they rounded up another 50 suspected militants in a raid spearheaded by the 24th MEU's Force Reconnaissance Platoon and Iraqi SWAT units," Nevers said. "The Iraqi SWAT force is emerging as an elite unit."

According to the Department of Defense, more than 700 Iraqis have been killed defending their country from insurgents since the end of major combat operations.

"In many respects, they are at greater risk than we are," Nevers said. "The Iraqi security forces are getting stronger with every operation. We will stand by them until they are ready to assume full responsibility for their security."