Good News From The War On Terror 4/15-4/17
OPERATION DIXON: NITRIC ACID CACHE SEIZED, THREE DETAINED
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized a large cache consisting of 600 five-gallon containers of nitric acid during an operation in eastern Baghdad April 12.
Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, uncovered the nitric acid cache inside a warehouse during cordon and search operations in the Baghdad’s Rusafa district.
“Operation Dixon” was aimed at disrupting local vehicle-borne improvised explosive device networks operating in the area and gaining additional information and intelligence on the VBIED networks.
Nitric acid is commonly used as a primary ingredient in explosives.
Numerous locations were searched in the Rusafa district.
Besides the nitric acid cache uncovered, three Iraqi suspects were detained and various items were confiscated, to include mobile phones, vehicle license plates, various identification cards, batteries, ammunitions and electrical components.
The suspects are being held for further questioning.
AFGHANS SEEKING PEACE, TURN-IN WEAPONS CACHES
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghans from Pachir village, Pachir Wa Agam District, Nangarhar Province, reported the locations of two weapons caches to Afghan National Police and Coalition forces operating near the city of Jalalabad yesterday.
Munitions consisting of two artillery rounds, 37 rocket propelled grenade rounds, two RPG boosters, 54 bomblets, 300 rounds of 12.77mm machine-gun ammunition and a bag of powder explosives were recovered from the villages of Pachir and Candibagh.
The munitions recovered are commonly used by Taliban extremists and foreign fighters to build improvised explosive devices that terrorize and kill innocent Afghan civilians and government officials.
“The Afghan populace is tired of the destruction brought about by the Taliban and foreign fighter insurgents,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesman. “Their continued effort to turn-in weapons caches is a significant indication that there is growing support for the Afghan Government.”
FAILED TRUCK BOMB CONTAINERS FILLED WITH GAS, NOT ACID
BAGHDAD — A dump truck that overturned attempting to deliver its payload of explosives in Mushada, Iraq April 16 held eight containers filled with fuel, not acid.
The containers were consistent with those normally used to transport nitric acid, but upon examination, they were found to be filled with gasoline.
The attempted vehicle-borne explosive device attack on a Joint Security Station failed when the driver overturned the vehicle. A coalition patrol arrived at the scene to provide assistance and discovered the containers, believed to be nitric acid, and explosives in the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle told the Soldiers that he was paid $30,000 to attack the JSS, which also houses the Mushada Police Station.
An explosive ordnance team removed the munitions and explosives from the site and continue to study them.
The driver remains in custody for questioning.
Iraqi Special Operations Forces raid nets five Al-Qaeda members in Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces conducted a late night raid in Baghdad on
April 11, capturing five suspects believed to be linked with al-Qaeda in Iraq.With coalition advisers present for support, Iraqi Forces raided several
residences in western Baghdad and detained their targets without incident.The primary targets of this operation are alleged to be involved in insurgent
activities and organizations in the Baghdad area. As prior intelligence provided by locals
indicated, Iraqi Forces also discovered weapons at the locations raided.No Iraqi or coalition forces were injured during this operation
COALITION FORCES CAPTURE EIGHT SUSPECTED TERRORISTS
BAGHDAD – Eight suspected terrorists, including two linked to a network placing improvised explosive devices, were detained Tuesday when Coalition Forces conducted raids near Baghdad and Fallujah.
In Baghdad, two individuals were detained for having alleged ties to a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network operating in the area. They are suspected of providing and transporting VBIED materials.
In Karmah, a village northeast of Fallujah, Coalition Forces detained six men for suspected ties to the al-Qaida terrorist network.
“These captures are another step in disrupting the terrorist networks operating in Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.
Provincial Security Forces discover weapons cache
RAMADI, Iraq – Provincial Security Force 1 discovered a weapons cache in the Hay Al Dhobot Thanaya district while conducting clearing operations here April 13.
The cache consisted of 22 speed bump improvised explosive devices, 11 fire extinguishers, four propane cylinders, two suicide vests, 60 projectiles and mortars ranging in size from 60mm to 130mm, and 10 gallons of chlorine.
Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment assisted in the recovery of the cache by securing the area until demolition experts arrived to assess and reduce the cache.
The weapons and materials discovered are commonly used by insurgents to make improvised explosive devices.
Coalition demolition experts destroyed the cache with a controlled detonation.
