THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Iraqi Citizen Tip Leads to Massive Weapons Cache

An explosive ordnance disposal specialist pulls copper disks, specifically machined to make explosively formed penetrators, out of a hidden room in a house in Sa'ada Village, Iraq, Oct. 23. Working off a tip from a concerned local citizen, coalition forces discovered a massive weapons cache in the home, including 124 fully-assembled EFPs and 159 copper disks of four different sizes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)

Soldiers carry mortar rounds found in a hidden room in a home in Sa'ada Village, Iraq, Oct. 23. A tip from a concerned local citizen lead Soldiers to a massive weapons cache in the home. (U.S. Air Force phot/Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)

Soldiers from Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, from Fort Lewis, Wash., and the 717th Ordnance Company explosive ordnance disposal team, 184th Ordnance Battalion, Combined Joint Task Force Troy, Fort Campbell, Ky., empty a massive weapons cache that was discovered at Saada village, Iraq, Oct. 23, 2007. The cache marks the largest discovery of explosively formed penetrators ever found in Iraq at one location. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2007 (AFPS) -- A concerned citizen led coalition forces to the largest cache of explosively formed penetrators ever found in a single location Oct. 23 in a home in Saada village, Iraq, officials reported.

EFPs, as the devices are known, are shaped charges designed to pierce even armored vehicles. Officials believe the deadly weapons originate in Iran.

"We knew we had something significant when the home's owner started bragging about how many weapons he had. A find like this helps keep my soldiers' morale up, because they know they've made a difference. It makes them feel good that they are saving soldiers' lives through their work," said Army Capt. Jason Rosenstrauch, B Troop commander, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment.

Video: Civilian Tip Leads to Cache
Soldiers searching Iraqi villages for weapon caches. Produced by Sgt. Ether Lewis.
This cache included more than 120 fully assembled EFPs and more than 150 copper disks of four different sizes used in making EFPs -- including 12-inch disks, among the largest ever discovered in Iraq. It also included 600-plus pounds of C4 and other explosive materials, 100 mortar rounds of various caliber, about 30 107 mm rockets, two mortar tubes and 20 claymore-type mines.

Coalition forces detained the cache owner in the raid.

Rosenstrauch said the citizens of Khan Bani Saad are working closely with coalition forces to keep insurgents out of the city.

"We have a lot of peace in the city center now," Rosenstrauch said. "We have had (many concerned local citizens) reporting on enemy activity. The people are turning on the insurgents and telling us where they are."

In other recent Iraq operations:

Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers grabbed seven suspected al Qaeda terrorists during two separate raids in the southern Doura area of the Iraqi capital Oct. 24. The suspects included five men who were positively identified as terrorist suspects engaged in murders, sniper activities, placing improvised explosive devices, grenade attacks on coalition forces, and displacing Shiia families; one man accused of placing IEDs, forcing people from their homes and murdering women; and another man suspected of financing al Qaeda activities.

A tip from a resident led Iraqi national police with the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st National Division, to a large weapons cache in the southeast district of New Baghdad in the Iraqi capital Oct. 24.

Soldiers from the 4th "Dragon" Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, uncovered a weapons cache and detained a suspected terrorist during ongoing operations in Baghdad's Rashid district Oct. 23. The cache included three 120 mm mortar rounds and wire with a blasting cap. The suspected terrorist is accused of leading a terrorist cell believed to be involved in murders, IED placement and weapons trafficking.