Iraqi Army tip leads to capture of suspected 'rocket man' in Kirkuk

Editor's Note: The following press release was recently received from CPT Monte Hibbert, 116th BCT Public Affairs, serving in Iraq with the 116th Engineering Battalion of the Idaho National Guard. Some of the soldiers of that battalion are from the Orofino Armory.

FOB WARRIOR, Iraq- Two Iraqi Army soldiers saw a man fire a rocket at Forward Operating Base Warrior Sept. 20 and provided information to the 116th Brigade Combat Team that led to his detention Sept. 21.

Upon receiving the intelligence, soldiers from Task Force 2-116 Armor's Alpha Company and the 2nd Iraqi Army Battalion's 2nd Company conducted a hasty afternoon raid, detaining a 33-year-old Arab male who was positively identified by the Iraqi Army witnesses as the one who had fired on the base the day before.

"These two soldiers were able to positively identify the suspect as the person they saw and provided sworn statements to that effect," said Capt. Paul White, TF 2-116 Alpha Company commander. "The coordination between Iraqi forces and coalition forces led to detaining the individual responsible for shooting the rocket within 24 hours."

The detainee was taken to an Iraqi detention facility for processing.

Working with Iraqi security forces to track down and detain suspected terrorists is part of the 116th BCT's mission while deployed in north central Iraq. The unit's mission also includes assisting Iraq's new government, supporting economic development and training the Iraqi Army.

The 116th BCT is comprised of headquarters and staff sections, two armor battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, a support battalion, a field artillery battalion, an engineer battalion, and various intelligence, signal, and specialized units. The 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.