Marines rescue three hostages, uncover weapons cache in Operation Spotlight

FUHUYLAT, Iraq  2006) -- Marines from 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment rescued three hostages and uncovered a large weapons cache, including a fully-assembled suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, during Operation Spotlight.

The intelligence-driven operation was conducted alongside Iraqi Army soldiers from 2nd and 4th Brigades, 1st Iraqi Army Division recently. The three hostages were personal assistants of Dr. Rafa Hayid Chiad Al-Isawi, an Iraqi government official in

Baghdad

. They were held by al-Qaeda insurgents for 27 days.

“We are extremely pleased we were able to recover these Iraqi citizens,” said Col. Larry D. Nicholson, Regimental Combat Team 5’s commanding officer. “The safety of Iraqi citizens to move freely about their own country without fear is a priority for U.S and Iraqi forces and we will continue to assist the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police in ensuring their citizens have a future that is free of terrorism.”

The hostages were beaten with electrical cords by their captors, as well as bitten and threatened with their lives at gunpoint. They were treated by Coalition Forces medical personnel.

The three were taken hostage by insurgents west of Zaidon, a rural area south of Fallujah.

Also recovered nearby was a significant weapons cache, including a fully-assembled suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Marines also recovered IEDs and IED-making material, mortar tubes and round, artillery rounds, machine guns, bulk explosives, anti-tank mines, rocket-propelled grenades and launchers, AK-47 assault rifles, small-arms ammunition and video cameras.

Comments

[Donna, Los Osos, CA]

My mouth was hanging open reading this..kept saying..Oh!Oh!

Great job Marines!!!
Semper gratus,
Donna

[Capt BCapt B]

Thanks Donna
Many dont know or want to know the great things being done over seas. We will keep attacking!

[Laura, Marine mom from Ohio]

Thank you so much for the combat update. You Marines have a most dangerous job & I cannot stress enough how grateful I am to you.As always you keep attacking & are getting the job done. MARINES ROCK!!!

[Sue]

Wouldn't it be great to see this on the nightly news instead of the daily death count from Iraq. Keep up the great work! We are proud!

[Sue]

Wouldn't it be great to see this on the nightly news instead of the daily death count from Iraq. Keep up the great work! We are proud!

[The One]

Great Job. Love hearing the good news for once.

[chtrbx]

Thanks for bringing us the good NSN once again Capt B! Our Marines are doing amazing things everyday and we need to hear about them.

[Mrs. Diva]

Once again, the Marines are doing an awesome job!

PS you need to empty your email again:)

[jim b]

Reservists in the attack.

Well done weekend warriors!

Like Capt B says, One Team, One Fight.

[GunnNutt]

Hey Capt. B - not to divert traffic from your site or anything, but could you put a link to 1 MEF on your site? All the really cool stories are this terrific Marine site!
http://www.imef-fwd.usmc.mil/imef/

Laura's right: MARINES ROCK!

[Linda]

Hi Gary,
Glad to see you are still protecting us and others and keeping us all free. Stay safe there, and give us a holler when you come home (I keep track of you through Elaine at the Wilson County News) and we'll have a Texas sized BBQ!

[Sssteve]

Thanks for the update Capt! Those Marines Rock! Keep up the good work!!

[Killjoy]

Imagine my pride when I opened my inbox to find this story. My husband is currently in Iraq and this is his company. I feel like I'm married to Superman or something. Very awesome. Thanks for posting.