Army News, news from Iraq, - Army Times

Iraqi and U.S. forces intercepted six donkeys at the Iran-Iraq border Thursday and discovered they were heavily laden with lethal cargo.

According to a Multi-National Corps-Iraq press release, the donkeys were carrying 53 anti-tank land mines and one anti-tank projectile.

The mines were confiscated, and two men fled before they could be captured. The six donkeys were released unharmed, the release said.

The interception took place in eastern Diyala province northeast of Baghdad. Units from the 25th Infantry Division, known as Task Force Lightning, and soldiers from the 5th Iraqi army division, Iraqi police and Iraqi border patrol units are responsible for security there.

The mines were in good condition and determined to be Soviet (TM 62) and Italian (IT VS 2.2) made models. One of the mines was pre-rigged to be used as a roadside bomb, the press release said.

A coalition forces explosive ordnance disposal team was called in, transported all munitions to a safe area and detonated them.

“This action by an alert Iraqi border patrol prevented dozens of very lethal munitions from being employed by terrorists,” said Col. Gary Patton, Task Force Lightning chief of staff.