Good News From The War On Terror 5/1-5/2
5 TERRORISTS KILLED, 20 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 20 suspected terrorists Tuesday during overnight raids targeting senior leaders within the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.
Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to targets associated with senior al-Qaeda leaders west of Taji Tuesday morning. During an operation there, terrorists engaged ground forces with small arms fire.
Coalition forces used appropriate self-defense measures and engaged the armed men, killing five. Six suspected terrorists were detained.
Coalition forces found weapons and grenades, which they destroyed on site.
North of Samarra, Coalition forces detained seven individuals with alleged ties to senior leaders in Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Five suspected terrorists were detained in a separate Coalition forces raid west of Taji, and two suspected terrorists were detained in an operation in Mosul.
SUSPECTED SUICIDE BOMB FACILITATOR DETAINED IN KHOWST
BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN – Afghan and Coalition forces detained one adult male after a raid on a house in the Tani district of the Khowst Province early this morning.
A search of the building turned up AK-47s and military-style load-bearing vests.
Credible evidence led the forces to the detainee, a suspected operative in the Haqqani network, who is also suspected of facilitating suicide bombers in the Khowst Province.
“Facilitators like this are simply cowards, exploiting impressionable people for their own purposes,” said Maj. Christopher Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesman.
No shots were fired, and no one was injured during the operation.
AFGHAN NATIONAL POLICE, COALITION FORCES NAB IED CELL LEADERS
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Police and Coalition forces detained three well-known improvised explosive device (IED) facilitators while conducting a combat operation to interdict a Taliban IED cell located 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) northwest of the city of Khowst, in Saberi district, Khowst province April 30.
The Combined ANP and Coalition force air-assaulted into the village of Zambar and quickly detained Haji Nazir, Nazir Khan and another individual, known only as Latif, at three separate compounds. The detained individuals are believed to be mid-level Taliban leaders who were involved in Taliban fighter recruiting, financing, and the masterminds behind the IED cell in the Sabari district.
No shots were fired during the successful mission and there were no injuries to any Afghan civilians reported.
“The information gained from these three individuals will assist us in detaining other key Taliban leaders,” said Maj. Christopher Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesperson. “We will continue to pursue and interdict Taliban leaders who threaten the people of Afghanistan.”
“Taliban leaders have two choices,” Belcher said. “Stop fighting and reconcile with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, or face elimination by Afghan National Security and Coalition forces.”
AFGHAN BORDER POLICE AND COALITION FORCES STOP ENEMY INSURGENTS
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan Boarder Police and Coalition forces, manning a checkpoint 80 kilometers (49.6 miles) northeast of Qalat, engaged three vehicles that were traveling at a high rate of speed when the approaching vehicles failed to slow down after appropriate warnings were given near the village of Zara Kalay, Maruf District, Kandahar Province, a few hours before midnight on May 1.
Once stopped, eight male insurgents exited the vehicles and began firing upon the checkpoint. ABP and Coalition forces returned fire killing five of the eight insurgents. Three insurgents managed to escape during the firefight.
There were no Afghan civilians in the vehicles and there were no injuries to ABP or Coalition forces.
“Enemy insurgents are attempting to slip through established security checkpoints to conduct illegal and terrorist activities,” said Maj. Christopher Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokesperson. “With the assistance of the Afghan people, Afghan Boarder Police and Coalition forces will be able to put a stop to all insurgent activity in the area.”
BAGHDAD EAGLE BATTALION TAKES LEAD IN COUNTERINSURGENCY FIGHT
MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq - Iraqi soldiers have been slowly taking the lead in the fight against terror throughout Iraq, and Tuesday another battalion officially took control.
The 4th Battalion of the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division's "Baghdad Eagles" assumed control of the battle space around Yusufiyah.
The battalion has worked side-by-side with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., since the 2nd BCT's arrival at the beginning of September.
The 4-31 Infantry "Polar Bears" have lived and worked with the Iraqi soldiers for the past eight months, training them in every aspect of counterinsurgency fighting; including finding caches, conducting air- and river-borne assaults into hostile areas, and providing medical and financial assistance to local civilian populations.
The 4-31 Soldiers helped the Iraqi soldiers train on weapons systems, communications equipment and jointly conducted countless operations, initially showing the way - then falling back to allow the Iraqis to lead, while remaining available to assist and answer questions.
"The 4/4/6 has made tremendous improvements in personnel, training and equipment readiness over the last eight months," said Maj. William Warner, a native of Union City, Tenn., and the 2nd BCT's Iraqi Security Forces coordinator. "Their assumption of responsibility and the designation that they are 'in the lead' in the Yusufiyah area are indicative of the exceptional hard work by the officers and soldiers of the 4/4/6 IA."
The battalion has taken control of about 75 square kilometers in the rural area south of Baghdad. The men of the 4/4/6 IA, which is based on Forward Operating Base Yusufiyah, have met all performance objectives, Warner said. They have proven themselves to be an effective force capable of defeating the enemy and providing security to the citizens of Yusufiyah.
An Iraqi Army In the Lead ceremony is slated for a future date.Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division discover a cache recently near Yusufiyah, Iraq. The 4/4/6 is preparing to officially take over 75 square kilometers around Yusufiyah at an Iraqi Army In the Lead ceremony slated for a future date.
4TH BRIGADE, 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION ARRIVES IN IRAQ
BAGHDAD - Multi-National Corps-Iraq added a U.S. brigade this week to assist the Iraqi Security Forces in and around Baghdad.
The 4th Brigade, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Lewis, WA will be deployed in various locations around the country. Their mission will be to assist Iraqi Security Forces to clear, control and retain key areas of the capital city in order to reduce violence.
The brigade includes approximately 3,700 Soldiers.
