(Talon News) -- U.S. forces in Iraq concluded Operation Sidewinder on Saturday, netting a host of weapons and hostile individuals.

Central Command reports that during the seven days of Operation Sidewinder, conducted by the 4th Infantry Division, 282 individuals were detained and a variety of weapons were seized. These included 96 AK-47 rifles, 3 heavy machine guns, 217 rocket-propelled grenades, 33 grenades, 200 60mm-mortar rounds, and other military equipment, documents, weapons and ammunition. In addition, $5000.00 U.S. cash and approximately 11 million Iraqi Dinar, or about 6,000 U.S. dollars, were seized.

Over the seven days of Operation Sidewinder and other supporting tasks, there were 30 casualties from Iraqi non-compliant forces and 28 coalition forces injuries. CENTCOM reports that no coalition force soldiers were killed during the seven days of the operation.

Operation Sidewinder was the third in a series of operations which began with Peninsula Strike and Desert Scorpion. The objective of the operation was to sweep through the task force's area of operations and root out elements attempting to undermine coalition efforts to restore basic infrastructure and stability in the region. CENTCOM believes that the nexus of paramilitary activity in central Iraq is located along a stretch of the Tigris River from Bayji to Baghdad, and is also the location of several destabilizing influences in the region.

By using combined arms operations with overwhelming firepower, the raids targeted former Ba'ath Party loyalists, subversive elements suspected of perpetrating attacks against U.S. forces, and former Iraqi military leaders. The raids also assisted in locating weapons, ammunition caches, and other illegal contraband.

According to CENTCOM, soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse will continue to conduct active patrols to locate any pockets of isolated resistance and destroy or capture the remnants of the former regime and other hostile forces operating in its area to improve the safety and quality of life for the people of Iraq.

Meanwhile, on the humanitarian front, CENTCOM reports that the Combined Joint Task Force-Seven Beanies for Baghdad Program delivered more than 7,000 Beanie Babies and more than 1,000 school supply items to local neighborhoods, hospitals children's ward, dental care units, communities rebuilding projects, and community children centers in efforts to "help bring smiles to children who have endured pain and suffering" under the rule of Saddam Hussein.

The program is run by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kirk E. Wallace, CJTF-7 chief of staff executive administrator who said, "I know that life giving supplies are important, but so are life lifting supplies. The American Spirit is reflected in the smiles and bright eyes of the Iraqi Children that receive these small tokens of joy."

In Kirkuk, the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion attended a United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) coordination meeting and assisted with delivering test taking supplies to the technical institute and the technical college to help ensure students obtain skills employers demand in the modern workforce.

CENTCOM announced a new police station opened in Mokakaha on July 5 with 36 graduates from the Veteran's Affairs Office and eight Mosul University security officers ready to stabilize their neighborhood and make a difference in deterring crime. In addition, the correctional facility graduated 70 correctional officers.

In Mosul, the Coalition delivered up to 4,000,000 liters of benzene to Ninewa Province yesterday on July 5.

In Baghdad, the City Advisory Council selected 36 of the 37 members vetted. According to CENTCOM, this is progress toward Iraqi citizens establishing their own government.

The 1st Brigade Combat Team and the 101st Airborne Division continued to fight the sulfur plant fire in Mosul. The units are utilizing 22 bulldozers, 16 dump trucks, five loaders, and six scrapers in addition to 57 Iraqi Firefighters and 50 civilian volunteers. The fire is nearly extinguished and another 5,000 gallons of foam has been requested to add to the initial 8,000 gallons.