Good News From The War On Terror 3/5 - 3/6

IRAQ

AIR STRIKE DESTROYS BUILDING USED TO BUILD IEDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A Coalition Forces air strike destroyed a building housing a large cache of materials used to build roadside bombs in Mosul Monday evening.

Intelligence reports stated terrorists were accumulating weapons and were believed to have knowledge of suppliers and producers of improvised explosive devices in the Mosul area.

Upon arrival at the targeted building, two individuals pulled weapons on the ground force. Ground forces took proper self-defense measures and killed the individuals.

While searching the targeted building, ground forces discovered an underground room that was being used to store large amounts of IED-making materials, including approximately 50 IEDs, 200 bags of fertilizer, blasting caps and multiple grenades.

Coalition Forces called in for air support to destroy the building to prevent the IED-related material from being used against Iraqi citizens, Iraqi military and Coalition Forces in the future.

“Considering the amount of human suffering and damage inflicted by VBIEDs, it is always significant when we are able to eliminate or detain terrorists involved in these attacks,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

LARGE CACHE DISCOVERIES HIGHLIGHT SECURITY EFFORTS

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, together with Iraqi security forces uncovered more than 10 times the number of mortar rounds and small arms ammunition this week, thanks in large part to several large cache finds southwest of the Iraqi capital.

More than 21,000 small arms rounds were confiscated this week, up from 2,160 the previous week; while 937 mortar rounds were discovered, up from 89 the week before.

“Our operations are denying terrorists and extremist elements the ability to wage war against innocent Iraqi citizens and our own forces,” said Brig. Gen. John F. Campbell, deputy commanding general for maneuver for MND-B. “Together with our Iraqi counterparts, we continue the effort to provide a lasting peace here in Baghdad.”

Noting the impact of the arrival of U.S. and Iraqi troops into Baghdad to implement the new security plan, Campbell pointed to the districts of Adhamiyah and Sadr City as recent success stories, based on the decrease in the number of attacks in those areas.

In December, the two eastern Baghdad districts accounted for 440 total attacks, which include small arms fire, improvised explosive device explosions and sectarian murders. From Feb. 5 through March 5 this year, however, Campbell said those attacks dropped to 91.

“Over the past month, there were 18 small arms attacks and 19 murders,” Campbell said. “That is a dramatic decrease from December totals of 116 and 254, respectively.”

The number of IED attacks decreased by nine, compared to the December 2006 monthly total, from 40 down to 31. Campbell said efforts continue in and around Baghdad to take weapons out of the hands of extremists.

The 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd “Commando” Brigade alone uncovered 23 caches during the week of Feb. 24 through March 2. In all, MND-B units found 51 caches, up 11 from the previous week.

In one mission alone, Operation Eagle Viper conducted March 1, the Commando Brigade uncovered eight caches and detained 42 suspects in Janabi Village, Iraq.

With additional troops arriving in the Iraqi capital every day, Campbell noted a steady rise in the number of security patrols in and around Baghdad.

“This week, we conducted more than 24,000 patrols in support of Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon,” Campbell said. “That’s up more than 2,500 from the previous week. Of those 24,000 patrols, more than half were conducted by the Iraqi police and national police forces.”

As security forces throughout Multi-National Division Baghdad expand into the neighborhoods and streets of the city, setting up patrol bases and Joint Security Stations, Campbell said there is an immediate impact on the enemy.

“We’ve seen in a continuing downward trend in attacks,” he said. “For the fourth straight week, attack volume within the city of Baghdad has declined.

“Despite determination by terrorists with Al Qaeda in Iraq to instigate sectarian violence through senseless killing of Iraqi civilians, we are seeing the lethality of these vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and suicide attacks declining, significantly,” Campbell added. “And sectarian murder levels remain lower than prior to the start of Operation Fardh al-Qanoon.”

Even as the level of violence continues to decline in and around the Iraqi capital, civil affairs operations, especially construction projects were slowed this week. The slow down was not due to violence in the city streets, but rather because of heavy rain and religious holidays, according to Navy Cmdr. Michael Sanchez, a civil military affairs plans officer with MND-B.

However, Sanchez said, the division hosted a team of industry executives, who visited several state-run enterprises in and around Baghdad to gain an appreciation for the existing capabilities and to begin developing strategies to revitalize industry.

“The executive team was sponsored by Paul Brinkley, the Defense Undersecretary for Business Transformation,” Sanchez said. “They went to factories in Iskandariyah, Mussayib and Al Doura.”

Another group brought in by Brinkley focused on agriculture, according to Sanchez.

“This team of agricultural experts met with division representatives to discuss agriculture-related initiatives being conducted in the farming regions around Baghdad,” Sanchez said.

The level of violence in the city remained relatively steady, Campbell said, showing no major increase or decrease over the past week. However, he lauded the weapons cache finds during the week.

“Three full weeks into the new security plan, we’re seeing the fruits of our labors,” he said. “There is progress being made on the streets of Baghdad as we take the fight to the enemies of a free Iraq.”

CLEARING SADR CITY: MND-B GENERAL PLEASED WITH INITIAL RESULTS

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – A combined force of Iraqi police, national police and Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops completed a second day of security operations in the eastern Baghdad Sadr City district March 5.

Members of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team and the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division conducted security operations with their Iraqi counterparts and reported no hostile contact for a second day in an area known to be a stronghold of Muqtada Al Sadr, the extremist leader of rogue elements known for extrajudicial killings and attacks against coalition forces. Some residents seemed genuinely pleased to see the troops arrive, as small children were seen smiling and waving to coalition forces.

"It's a promising first start,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr., commanding general of MND-B. “We sense there is an opportunity opening here that we want to immediately take advantage of while working with the Iraqi security forces and the people of Sadr City.”

The citizens of Sadr City appear to welcome the respite from recent violence over the last few months. The killings have fallen off from more than 200 in December and January to less than 20 during the past 30 days as the new security plan for the Iraqi capital is carried out by newly arrived troops.

“Although much too early to tell,” Fil noted, “we sense that the people of the city are ready for a change."

At the conclusion of the security operations a Joint Security Station will be established in the District Police Station for Sadr City. This security station will allow a 24-hour presence in the Sadr City district and facilitate coordination between all security forces.

Fil said the key to future success is the newly-established Baghdad Operational Command, and the close coordination and cooperation that have been established.

“The Baghdad Operational Command became fully operational on the first of this month and they are off to a great start,” the general said. “Lt. Gen. Abud is directing and controlling Iraqi security forces throughout Baghdad. We are coordinating between our commands in a way that is having an immediate effect on the streets. Feedback from the Iraqis has been positive and we feel at this time we are on the right track."

AFGHANISTAN

5 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS ARRESTED IN KHOWST PROVINCE

KABUL , Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces arrested five suspected terrorists, two of whom attempted to flee to a neighboring building, during an operation the evening of March 5 west of Khowst city.

The men were arrested without further incident following a thorough search of the buildings, which also uncovered a cache of grenades and armor-piercing rounds.

Credible information in connection with anti-government activities and known terrorist groups at the suspected compound led the Coalition forces to the building in Khowst province.

No shots were fired during the operation and there were no reported injuries or damages. The grenades and ammunition were destroyed at the scene.