Good News From The War On Terror 4/7
IRAQI SECURITY FORCES ENFORCE "RULE OF LAW"
MOSUL, Iraq - Iraqi Security Forces conducted security sweeps throughout Ninewa Province Tuesday and Wednesday, seizing black market fuel, illegal munitions, and bomb-making equipment and detaining suspected anti-Iraqi forces.
"The terrorist actions aim at creating disorder and destabilizing the situation in the city. God willing, we are going to uproot the terrorists from this city," concluded Duraid Kashmoula, Ninewa's provincial governor.
Kashmoula explained the senior leadership's role and the need for the crackdown."Today we have a Mosul-wide security operation that parallels the Baghdad Law Enforcement Plan and aims at preventing any saboteur or terrorist from gaining a foothold in Mosul. We realized that we have to participate [ISF] in the operation.
We have noticed that the IA soldiers and IP officers are well deployed and are cooperative with each other; each based on its area of operation," said Kashmoula.
IA soldiers from the 2nd and 3rd Iraqi Army Divisions supported IP officers in raiding suspected improvised explosive device factories, suspected illegal munitions caches and known insurgent hideouts both inside and outside the various city limits."Our roles - myself and the IP commander, along with the 2IA Division commander, are making tours to all the troops to look closely into their performance and style of dealing with the people," Kashmoula added.
A total of 179 individuals were detained during the two-day sweep, eight terrorists were killed, and the ISF seized numerous small arms, ammunition, projectiles and IED-making material.
IP also seized hundreds of liters of black market fuel that will be utilized by the ISF in their generators and to fuel vehicles, allowing for increased patrols to provide security for the province's cities, according to IP officials.
Coalition troops from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division aided the Iraqi patrols with vehicle and logistical support, to include air support.
NATIONAL POLICE DELIVER SUPPLIES, HOPE TO IRAQI SCHOOLCHILDREN
BAGHDAD - Lt. Col. Ahmed, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st National Police Division handed out supplies to a pair of elementary schools in Southwest Rashid during a joint operation with Company A, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, April 4.
The mission was the first of its kind in the area by the NP battalion and its U.S counterpart. 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division out of Schweinfurt, Germany. The police commander not only took the opportunity to deliver supplies to the Arbid and Ibn Yakhdan schools, but made an assessment of the facilities and the surrounding communities as well.
"This is a good beginning, but I want you to know that we will make the area safe for the children. We want to help you to clean up the trash in this neighborhood and make the people proud to live here," he told Ms. Noor, the headmistress of the Arbid school in Southwest Rashid.
As he spoke, members of his battalion, wearing crisp new uniforms, and displaying a professional demeanor, carried boxes of supplies into the building. A new television set, water dispenser, computer and monitor, power supply and office furniture were brought in, all of which represented progress and hope for the children who will be able to make use of these implements to enhance their education.
OPERATION NETS 27 INSURGENTS IN AD DIWANIYAH
AD DIWANIYAH, Iraq- Bomb-making materials and 27 insurgent suspects were seized during Operation Black Eagle, a combined operation headed by Iraqi Army troops supported by Soldiers and paratroopers from Multi-National Division-Baghdad and Multi-National Division-Center South.
"Fighting was steady throughout the first day," said Maj. Eric Verzola, spokesman for MND-B's 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. "Iraqi soldiers fought bravely alongside coalition forces throughout the day against the anti-Iraqi forces."
Verzola said three anti-Iraqi forces were killed and six others wounded during the operation. He said two Iraqi Army troops and one coalition Soldier were wounded.
Troops swept into the city to disrupt militia activity and return security and stability of the volatile city back to the government of Iraq, Verzola said. Soldiers of the 8th Iraqi Army Division began Operation Black Eagle in response to the recent violence threatening to destabilize the region.
A facility was found where several explosively-formed projectiles were in several stages of production. Four EFPs were assembled in the facility and secured. EFP-making materials were also found and secured.
Two other locations were found containing homemade explosives. Additionally, six AK-47s, two RPK machine guns and two pistols were found and secured during the operation.
MILITARY DOCTORS TREAT AFGHAN WAR’S SMALLEST CASUALTIES
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VBIED CELL LEADER KILLED, EIGHT OTHERS CAPTURED IN RAIDS
Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and captured eight suspected terrorists Saturday morning during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cells.
In southwest Baghdad, a terrorist was killed and three suspected terrorists were detained during an assault by Coalition Forces. The detainees indicated that the man killed was a local VBIED cell leader in charge of approximately 40-50 men. Coalition Forces also found several AK-47s in the targeted building.
South of Ramadi, Coalition Forces captured four suspected terrorists with ties to an al-Qaeda in Iraq foreign fighter facilitation network.
"These terrorists are indiscriminately killing innocent Iraqis," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. "Coalition Forces continue methodical and deliberate efforts to eliminate VBIED cells in Iraq."
Afghan National Police Graduate New Leaders
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan national police took strides toward taking more control of their own security after a joint team of Soldiers with the 235th Military Police Company and Airmen with the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team led them through a leadership seminar April 2-4.
Police chiefs from seven districts across Kapisa Province received classroom instruction on ethics, values, leadership, community policing, map reading, running a tactical operations center, basic communication, hygiene and logistics. Completion of this course made them the first Afghan police leaders to complete this type of training.
“This training was virgin territory for them and for us,” said Army Lt. Col. James Slagowski, 201st Regional Security Assistance Command Central senior mentor for Kapisa ANP.
“The classes went very well. We had excellent instruction and great participation. I know they will take the lessons they learned here and pass it on to their subordinates.”
Not only did the training serve to teach leadership skills to local ANP, but it also helped with increasing interoperability between the ANP, Afghan national army and coalition forces.
“Teaching them some of the ways we operate and ways they can communicate with their troops will only help improve our working relationship because we will all be on the same page when it comes to how we lead our people,” said Army 2nd Lt. Thadius Schmit, 235th MP Company platoon leader. “Training like this makes them more self-reliant so that one day they can run their security operations by themselves.”
The 16 ANP leaders agreed that this training opportunity is one that taught them a lot and is one that they will never forget.
“First, I would like to thank the Soldiers for sharing their wealth of knowledge with us,” said Afghan Col. Ahnadullah Oria, Tagab District police chief and one of the class’ distinguished graduates. “I especially enjoyed the leadership and communications classes. It taught us ways to manage our troops and improve security for the community.”
Fellow honor grad and police chief of Nejrabdis District, Afghan Col. Padshahgul Bakhtegar agreed.“The training I will take back to my troops is the communication portion,” he said. “Communication is the mind of the army. Without communication, there is no combat. If we can communicate, we can provide better security for our people.”
While this three-day training event was aimed at the leaders, the joint team of trainers plan on conducting these classes in Parwan Province as well as going to the leaders’ individual districts to pass on the these unique leadership skills.
“We know that by giving them the confidence they need to lead, that it will go a long way toward helping them secure there own cities and villages against insurgents,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Francis Warren, Bagram PRT NCOIC (non-commissioned officer in charge) of Afghan police training assistance. “If they can handle community problems at the police level, then things would be more secure for the whole country.”
This training was the first step in a three-prong process of training for the ANP. In the near future classes like these are planned to tackle logistical needs and operate a provincial coordination center.
“We want to make a lasting impact with our training,” said Slagowski. “We want the Afghan people to be able take over for the long term. I have been truly impressed by the professionalism of our joint Air Force and Army team. They are up to the challenge of seeing this training through to the end and ensure freedom’s future for the Afghan people.”
