CENTCOM NEWS RELEASES

Including those I couldn't access yesterday.

July 23, 2003
Release Number: 03-07-70

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEASE

ONE SOLDIER KILLED, SEVEN WOUNDED IN IED ATTACK

MOSUL, Iraq– One 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldier was killed and seven 101st AD soldiers wounded when an improvised explosive device struck two military vehicles traveling on Highway 1 outside of Mosul July 23 at approximately 6 a.m.

The soldiers were evacuated to the 21st Combat Support Hospital for treatment.

The names of the soldiers are being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.


July 23, 2003
Release Number: 03-07-71

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOLDIER KILLED, TWO OTHERS WOUNDED IN IED ATTACK

AR RAMADI, Iraq – One 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment soldier was killed, and a soldier and a contractor were wounded when their convoy was attacked by an improvised explosive device on Highway 1 in Ar Ramadi July 23 at approximately 7:45 a.m.

The soldiers and contractor were evacuated to Life Support Area Dogwood at approximately 8:30 a.m. for treatment.

The names of the soldiers and the civilian are being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.


July 23, 2003
Release Number: 03-07-72

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BARZAN ABD AL-GHAFUR SULAYMAN MAJID AL-TIKRIT CAPTURED

MACDILL AFB, FL – U.S. Forces captured in Baghdad at approximately 1 a.m., July 23, a former regime loyalist who is listed as number 11 on U.S. Central Command’s Top 55 most wanted list. Barzan Abd Al-Ghafur Sulayman Majid Al-Tikrit was the former regime’s Special Republican Guard Commander.

July 23, 2003
Release Number: 03-07-73

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COALITION FORCES IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN MOSUL

MOSUL, Iraq – Coalition forces during the past week set up telephone lines, removed solid waste and sewage from city streets and established a youth soccer program in the northern region of Iraq near the city of Mosul.

Signal teams from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) identified areas where telephone lines had been cut or damaged and are working to repair connections throughout Nineveh province. Due to looting as well as outdated and neglected telephone equipment only 15 percent of the households in Mosul have working telephones and people in the outlying countryside have no service at all.

However, on July 19 due to the efforts of the 101st AAD the area’s telephone system has processed more than 37,000 calls.

Coalition forces are focusing on the removal of solid waste and sewage from the streets of Mosul. Several waste collection points have been built for citizens to dispose of their garbage. Also, Coalition forces have established a sewage disposal center and are working to clear sewage lines in order to stop the flooding of waste in the streets.

Soldiers from the 101st AAD along with the Mosul Olympic Committee have established a youth soccer program for youth males ages 8 to 18. More than 120 teams made up of players from both sides of the Tigris River are in the league, which started July 19. The 103-game season is scheduled to last until the beginning of the school year in September and is a feeder program for the Iraqi Olympic soccer team.

Also in Mosul, Coalition forces are continuing to encourage citizens to turn in assault weapons without being arrested. Coalition forces have established an incentive for communities to work together in improving the security of their neighborhoods by funding a community service project that turns in the largest quantity of weapons to their muhktars (tribal leaders).


July 24, 2003
Release Number: 03-07-74


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


THREE SOLDIERS KILLED IN CONVOY AMBUSH

MOSUL, Iraq – Three 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldiers were killed when their convoy was ambushed by small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, while traveling to Qayarrah West outside of Mosul, at approximately 2:30 a.m. July 24.

The ambush site was secured and the soldiers were evacuated to a nearby medical facility. The unit found two RPG’s and an AK-47 at the site.

The names of the soldiers are being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.