BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers engaged two criminal rocket teams and fended off an attack by armed criminals during night operations against in Baghdad May 8.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., MND-B soldiers monitoring an aerial surveillance system witnessed two Special Groups criminals gathering around a rocket rail that had been used for an indirect fire attack earlier in Sadr City.

The criminals then loaded two carts and pushed them down a street.

An aerial weapons team was called in, engaged the individuals with one Hellfire missile and killed both criminals.

Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, were attacked by criminals using small-arms fire at approximately 8:35 p.m. in Sadr City. Acting in self-defense, the soldiers fired one M1A2 Abrams tank round and machine gun fire. Two criminals were killed.

At approximately 10:45 p.m., soldiers from 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., operating an unmanned aerial vehicle witnessed four Special Groups criminals load a rocket rail into a vehicle and drive away in New Baghdad. The UAV followed the vehicle until it stopped and parked inside a garage in Sadr City. The UAV engaged the garage with a Hellfire missile. Two criminals were killed, and the rocket rail, garage and vehicle were destroyed.

“The partnership between the Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. soldiers is strong, and we share a common goal: Protect the people, defeat Al-Qaeda in Iraq and enforce the rule of law,” said Col. Allen Batschelet, chief of staff, MND-B and 4th Inf. Div. “We are working toward transition and setting conditions for economic growth.”