Good News From The War On Terror 5/5-5/6
Iraqi SOF detain six suspected al-Qaeda members during raid in Radwaniyah
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured six suspects linked to the al-Qaeda network in Radwaniyah, who carried out attacks on local civilians and troops, during an operation conducted May 4. The operation was aimed at disrupting Al-Qaeda operations responsible for vehicle borne
IED attacks in Baghdad.
During the raid of several residences in Radwaniyah village nine miles west of central Baghdad, Iraqi SOF detained their primary targets without incident. Seven other suspects who were also present during the operation were also detained.The primary targets of this operation are alleged to be involved in an insurgent network that is responsible for conducting attacks against local civilians, Iraqi Security Forces and coalition forces in the surrounding Radwaniyah and Baghdad areas.
ISOF also destroyed a vehicle believed to contain a VBIED. All civilians were cleared from the area prior to detonation.
MND-B troops thwart insurgent plans; discover truck bomb
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers stopped what might have been a costly attack May 4 in the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital’s south side when they discovered and disposed of a large truck bomb.
The members of the Fort Riley, Kan.-based Company C, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment “Black Lions,” currently assigned to Company A, 1st Bn. 77th Armored Regt. and operating with 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt., were conducting a routine patrol when they spotted a large blue tanker truck matching the description of a vehicle suspected of having been converted into a vehicular bomb.
A search of the truck resulted in the discovery of 14 155mm artillery shells wired for detonation.
After securing the area and cordoning off adjacent streets and neighborhoods to prevent any collateral damage, an explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the vehicle and munitions.
“When proactive Soldiers are alert and understand their mission, everyone benefits,” said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.
A second weapons cache was also discovered by the Black Lions troops. The Soldiers from Company C uncovered 27 120mm rounds and six 82mm mortar rounds. The additional munitions were placed at the controlled detonation site of the blue tanker truck by an EOD team and a second controlled detonation
destroyed them.
Operation Eagle Dive II nets 33 suspected terrorists
YUSUFIYAH, Iraq – Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 33 suspected terrorists during a combat operation in Lutifiyah, Iraq April 26.
Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division in conjunction with 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) of Fort Drum, N.Y., detained the terrorists during Operation Eagle Dive II, an operation intended to deny planned attacks on
Patrol Base Lutifiyah.The suspects were captured in a house-to-house search.
The detainees are being held for further questioning.
Rashid clearing continues: troops seize EFP construction cache
BAGHDAD — Iraqi Security Forces, along with Soldiers from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division continued clearing operations in the Rashid District of southwestern Baghdad May 5-6, detaining four suspected terrorists and confiscating several weapons caches, including one found at what is believed to be an explosively-formed projectile (EFP) construction site.
Stryker troops from the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment “Tomahawks,” along with Iraqi national police and Iraqi Army troops, continued the fourth and fifth days of Operation Dragon Fire/Arrowhead Strike 10 to rid the Rashid District of terrorists and criminals and to protect the population. One of the caches discovered consisted of components used to build EFPs.
“This is a significant find because of the threat EFPs pose,” said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, whose unit is responsible for the operational area within the Rashid District. “These components will never be assembled into something that can harm others. It also shows how effective the (clearing) operation is at getting after those who aren’t acting in the best interests of a safe and secure Iraq.”
Also discovered in two days of clearing operations were caches consisting of AK-47 assault rifles, an RPK machinegun, large amounts of 7.62mm ammunition and mortar rounds of varying calibers (81mm, 82mm and 120mm) The operation included about 200 Iraqi Army troops and national policemen and 1,100 U.S Army Soldiers working together to keep pressure on those conducting activities against the government and Coalition in Iraq.
Iraqi National Police coordinates with 1-15 Infantry to combat
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – U.S. Army Apache helicopters killed eight to 10 insurgents southeast of Salman Pak, Iraq, following a short clash between Iraqi National Police and extremists late Friday night.
Extremists engaged Iraqi National Police with machine-gun fire and mortars at a checkpoint along a main thoroughfare outside of Salman Pak.
Coalition AH-64 attack helicopters from the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment were on site within minutes of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division relaying reports from the INP.
The attack helicopters identified two trucks fleeing the scene, both with multiple armed occupants. The attack helicopters engaged the trucks destroying both vehicles and killing eight to 10 extremists.
1-15 Infantry is a part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Benning, Ga. and the 1-227th Aviation is part of the 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – Marines on patrol from Regimental Combat Team 6, found numerous weapons caches approximately six kilometers southwest of Camp Fallujah Friday.All items found were safely and successfully destroyed by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.
The items found include:• 350 Mortar charges150 9 volt batteries
• 54 Mortar rounds of various sizes
• 20 Tank rounds
• 19 Rocket propelled grenade rounds
• 10 Loaded AK-47 magazines
• 10 Blasting caps
• 10 Waterproof flairs
• 10 Dragonov sniper rifle rounds
• 7 IED initiator systems
• 5 Anti-aircraft guns of various calibers, one mounted in the bed of a truck
• 4 Iraqi Army uniforms
• 4 Spools of command wire
• 3 Pressure plate IED initiators
• 3 Recoilless rifle (anti-armor) rounds
• 3 Machine guns of various caliber
• 3 Rocket propelled grenade boosters
• 2 Base stations
• 1 Rocket motor
• 1 RCA controller
13 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 13 suspected terrorists Sunday during raids targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq, a foreign fighter facilitation network and improvised explosive device networks.
Coalition Forces detained four individuals northeast of Karmah for their suspected involvement facilitating the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq.
Four more suspected terrorists with alleged ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq network were detained in the town of Hit, and Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist in Ramadi, allegedly associated with the al-Qaeda network.Intelligence reports led Coalition Forces to a suspected weapons dealer in Baghdad, where they detained three suspected terrorists believed to transport weapons and facilitate foreign fighters.
Coalition Forces targeted the Baghdad vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network, and detained one suspected terrorist in a raid in the city.
COALITION FORCES FIND TORTURE ROOM, DESTROY WEAPONS CACHE IN SADR CITY
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces destroyed a torture room, a large cache of weapons and improvised explosive device-making materials Sunday morning while targeting terrorists in Sadr City.
Coalition Forces targeted the location based on intelligence reports that indicated the presence of suspected members of 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.
During a search of the objective, Coalition Forces found a torture room and cache of over 150 mortar rounds, ammunition and IED-making materials.
Because the explosive nature and instability of the materials, Coalition Forces cordoned off the area and an explosive ordnance team detonated the materials in place.
When ground forces initially approached buildings at the targeted location, they began receiving heavy small arms fire, including rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons, from one of the buildings. Coalition Forces, using appropriate self-defense measures, returned fire.
Four more armed men engaged Coalition Forces from behind a vehicle, which was struck when Coalition Forces returned fire, reacting to the hostile actions with appropriate self-defense measures and fired on it. The vehicle was destroyed.
SEVERAL TALIBAN COMMANDERS BELIEVED KILLED NEAR SHINDAND
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Coalition and Afghan National Security Forces have received intelligence which indicates over 10 Taliban commanders were among those killed during fighting in the village of Parmekan, 23 kilometers (14.26 miles) south of Shindand, Herat Province, on April 27 and 29.
One of the senior Taliban commanders reportedly killed was from Helmand Province and recently released with four other Taliban members in exchange for an Italian journalist who was taken hostage two months ago. Two other senior Taliban commanders, believed to have been killed in the battles, were known enemies of the Afghan government for the past three years.
Reporting and intelligence suggests that most of the senior Taliban commanders and sub-commanders entered the Zerkoh Valley to reinforce enemy fighters in the village of Parmekan at the conclusion of the first battle against Coalition and Afghan National Police forces. They were later killed during the second battle.
Following reports of civilian casualties during the operation, both Combined Joint Task Force-82 and NATO's International Security Assistance Force are working with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to make inquiries into the incident.
