Operation Eagle Ares

Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers nabbed 46 men suspected of involvement with the al Qaeda network July 12, 2007 under the cover of darkness, east of Lutifiyah, Iraq. Troops of the 4th Brigade, Iraqi 6th Division and Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., air assaulted in the area, and then began searching reeds along canals for weapons caches. The combined air assault detained 29 men on the Iraqi army’s list of persons of interest, and 14 others who were identified by sources as terrorists. Three other men detained were taken for questioning on suspicion of terrorist activity. The detainees were taken to FOB Mahmudiyah for questioning.