Good News From The War On Terror 5/26
IRAQI ARMY SOLDIERS DETAIN SEVEN SUSPECTED AL QAEDA TERRORISTS IN DIYALA PROVINCE
JALULA - Iraqi soldiers conducted a raid on May 24 in an eastern Iraq neighborhood capturing seven suspects linked to the terrorist network of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Acting on tips received from the local population, Iraqi soldiers raided several residences in the village of Karim Al Haymus and detained their primary targets without incident. The Iraqi soldiers also seized a cache of weapons including 12 AK-47s, two sniper rifles and materials used for the construction of improvised explosive devices.
AFGAN NATIONAL POLICE DETAIN AL-QAIDA CELL COMMANDER IN KOWST PROVINCE
KHOWST, Afghanistan - Afghan National Police, advised by Coalition forces, detained one al-Qaida cell commander in the Bak District of Khowst Province just after midnight on May 25.
Credible information led ANP and Coalition forces to the village of Pelekhail where they detained an al-Qaida cell commander, known only as Mujahid. ANP detained Mujahid and two other men for questioning while conducting a search of a compound in the village. No shots were fired during the successful operation and there were no injuries to Afghan civilians or ANP members.
The enemy commander, known only by his first name, has been responsible for multiple improvised explosive device and suicide bomber attacks in Khowst Province. Mujahid has targeted schools and government officials resulting in the deaths of dozens of innocent civilians. He has also been involved in weapons smuggling and supplying logistics to other al- Qaida fighters.
TWO TERRORISTS KILLED, 23 SUSPECTS DETAINED, EXPLOSIVES DESTROYED
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces killed two terrorists, detained 23 suspected terrorists and destroyed a cache of explosives during operations against al-Qaeda in Iraq Saturday.
Coalition Forces targeted a suspected terrorist leader in a raid southwest of Taji Saturday morning. As the ground forces approached the building, two armed men took up fighting positions. Coalition Forces, reacting to the perceived hostile threat, engaged the two men with small arms fire, killing them.
Inside the building, Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists. One is believed to be an al-Qaeda senior leader whose group supplies vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices for use in the Taji area. The group is also known to be responsible for indirect fire and IED attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
In a follow-up operation southeast of Karmah, Coalition Forces found a cache of weapons and explosives, including 10 homemade bombs, a 55-gallon drum of ammonium nitrate, 200 anti-aircraft rounds and an anti-aircraft artillery mount, and a dump truck outfitted with a detonation cord. Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists and safely destroyed the weapons cache on site.
Coalition Forces targeted a suspected terrorist in Baghdad and detained two individuals during a raid there. One of the individuals is allegedly a member of a deadly VBIED cell. In another raid in the city, Coalition Forces detained seven suspected terrorists for their involvement as associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader.
In a raid targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist network known to facilitate the movement of foreign fighters, Coalition Forces detained six suspected terrorists in Fallujah. Acting on intelligence gained from successful operations May 22,
Coalition Forces raided three buildings in Mosul, where they detained three suspected terrorists with alleged ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq network there.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces detained two suspected al-Qaeda militants and discovered weapons in a raid on a compound early Saturday in the Khost district of Khowst Province.
Credible intelligence led the forces to the location suspected of housing local al-Qaeda operatives. A search of the compound revealed two fragmentation grenades and an anti-personnel mine.
The weapons were taken to a safe distance and destroyed in place.
The detainees will be questioned as to their involvement in militant activities.
AFGHAN BORDER POLICE DETAIN NANGARHAR PROVINCE TALIBAN LEADER
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan Border Police, advised by Coalition forces, detained a Taliban leader in the Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province during an operation May 24.
After receiving information on the whereabouts of Sayed Gulab, a notorious Nangarhar Taliban area commander and improvised explosive device cell facilitator, ABP members quickly moved to the village of Shir Wagan and detained him. Gulab is currently being held for questioning in a Coalition detention facility.
No Afghan civilians or ABP members were injured during the successful operation.
Gulab has been responsible for emplacing IED’s in the Pachir Wa Agam district resulting in the injuries and deaths of innocent Afghan civilians and Afghan National Security Forces. He is also known to have extensive connections with other senior Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership in Nangarhar and Pakistan.
SECRET CELL KEY LEADER DETAINED, AIR STRIKE IN SADR CITY
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi and Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist cell leader and killed at least five terrorists Saturday morning during raids in Sadr City.
The individual detained during the raid is believed to be the suspected leader in a secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training.
After successfully detaining the suspected secret cell leader during the morning's operation, nine vehicles moved into the target area and were positioning themselves to block and ambush Iraqi and Coalition Forces as they began to depart the area. Iraqi and Coalition Forces responded to a perceived threat and called in close air support. All nine vehicles were engaged during the air strike, killing at least five terrorists.
Intelligence reports indicate the individual detained is suspected of having direct ties to a senior leader of a significant EFP network as well as acting as a proxy for an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officer.