A 4th Infantry Division soldier, saved from more serious injury by his protective body armor and ceramic insert, known as the SAPI (Small Arms Protective Insert) plate, is in stable condition after being wounded by gunfire from attackers in the village of Abu Kharma at approximately 4 a.m. Jan. 14. The Task Force Ironhorse soldier and his patrol were attacked as they conducted a raid as part of Operation Warhorse Whirlwind. Four attackers were banged killed and one was wounded as a result of the ensuing firefight.
Task Force Ironhorse soldiers raided 28 locations as part of the operation, searching for members of the Fedayeen. They captured 31 individuals, including eight people who were specifically targeted for suspected involvement in anti-Coalition activity. The soldiers located and confiscated 19 AK-47 assault rifles, one SKS automatic weapon, one PKM machine gun, one RPK machine gun, one pistol, one rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, six RPGs, two wired 155-millimeter artillery rounds, one mortar charge, one 60-millimeter rocket, 15 blocks of PE-4 plastic explosives, ammunition magazines and various types of ammunition, Iraqi military uniforms from the former regime, face hoods and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs). |