Good News From The War On Terror 4/29-4/30
Iraqi soldiers find VBIED in Mahmudiyah area
MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — Iraqi soldiers discovered a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Mahmudiyah April 30.
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division noticed the VBIED along a highway in north Mahmudiyah.
Upon discovery of the VBIED, 2-4-6 IA soldiers contacted the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., who then cordoned off the area and escorted the explosive ordnance disposal team to the site.
The EOD team executed a controlled detonation of the VBIED.
Iraqi Security Forces raid lands suspected death squad leader
Baghdad – Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained Sayyid Sallih Al-Jezzaani, an individual believed to the leader of a rogue element of the Jaysh Al-Madhi (JAM) militia in the Basrah area, as a result of a raid launched on 30 Apr.
The Iraqi SOF initiated the raid with coalition forces present as advisors. Al-Jezzaani offered no resistance while being captured. He was found equipped with body armor and a weapon. Seven other suspicious individuals were also detained during the operation.
As Iraqi and coalition forces arrived in the district of Al-Abilla in Basra, enemy forces fired rocket propelled grenades and detonated improvised explosive devices on the assault force. No fire was returned as the assault force proceeded to their objective.
Al-Jezzaani is alleged to be linked with death squad activities and attacks against coalition forces in Basrah. Additionally, he is responsible for providing insurgents with funding and weapons and assisting in the recruitment of new militia members. He is also linked to the Feb. 2007 murder of two Iraqi interpreters working with coalition forces.
Seven suspected terrorists detained in central Baghdad operation
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces conducted a morning operation on April 27 in Baghdad, capturing three suspects believed to be involved in insurgent activities.
With coalition advisers present for support, Iraqi forces raided several residences in the Yarmouk neighborhood of central Baghdad and detained their targets without incident.
Iraqi forces also detained four other suspicious individuals who were present during the operation. Two vehicles containing explosives were destroyed. All civilians and detainees were cleared from the area before detonation.
The primary targets of this operation are alleged to be responsible for conducting insurgent activities in the Yarmouk area, for civilian kidnappings and murders as well as attacks on coalition and Iraqi forces.
Cavalry foils insurgent attack at Tarmiyah Huda Girls’ School
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers foiled an insurgent attack comprised of numerous improvised explosive devices targeting an all-girls’ school north of Baghdad April 28.
Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, discovered a command wire leading from the school’s outer perimeter to one of the rooms at the Huda Girls’ School, in Tarmiyah, Iraqi. Inside the room, the cavalry troops discovered five artillery shell explosives.
The insurgent’s planned attack, in opposition of the construction of the school, also included two large explosive-filled propane tanks buried underneath the school’s floor and numerous projectiles emplaced underneath electrical conduits in front of each classroom.
The unit believes Al Qaeda extremists, operating in the area, are responsible for the emplacement of the explosives in an effort to thwart the progress the local government has made to improve the lives of the people of Tarmiyah.
The reconstructed school, a project led by the local Tarmiyah government, was scheduled to open in the coming weeks. This is the second time this month explosives have been found in the facility.
Polar Bears, Golden Dragon discover IEDs, weapons cache
BAGHDAD— Coalition forces discovered two improvised explosive devices and a weapons cache southwest of Baghdad today.
Soldiers from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga., currently attached to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment “Polar Bears,” and the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment “Golden Dragons,” both units of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., discovered the weapons.
The first IED was discovered by 2-69 Armor Soldiers southwest of Yusufiyah at 9:35 a.m. local time.
Soldiers of D Co., 4-31 Inf. discovered another IED in the vicinity of Rushdi Mullah at 10:05 a.m. local time, while conducting a dismounted patrol. The IED was found near a wood line in a white plastic bag.
In another incident, the Golden Dragons found a weapons cache near Rushdi Mullah.
The cache consisted of three rocket-propelled grenade rounds, a bag filled with unknown types of explosives, three bags of crystalline powder and three large blasting caps.
The cache and IEDs were destroyed by the explosive ordnance team during a controlled detonation.
11 Suspected Terrorists Detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 11 suspected terrorists Monday during raids targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.
Coalition Forces continued to crack down on the al-Qaeda in Iraq network, detaining 10 suspected terrorists near Samarra.
In Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured one suspected terrorist. Intelligence reports indicate he was allegedly a part of a local operation to acquire bomb-making materials.
