Good News From The War On Terror 6/1-6/2
SIX TERRORISTS KILLED, VBIED DESTROYED, 18 SUSPECTS DETAINED
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed six terrorists and detained 18 suspected terrorists in operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq Thursday and Friday.
North of Fallujah Thursday afternoon, Coalition Forces conducted an operation to capture suspected terrorists allegedly associated with al-Qaeda senior leadership. Coalition Forces attempted to stop their vehicle, but when the suspected terrorists resisted, Coalition Forces used proper escalation of force measures and engaged the vehicle with automatic weapons, killing three men.
Inside the vehicle, Coalition Forces found two mortar rounds, a rifle and an approximately 100-pound improvised explosive device. The vehicle and heavy explosives were safely destroyed on site.
While Coalition Forces were at the scene, they received small arms fire from a nearby orchard. Taking appropriate self-defense measures, the ground forces engaged the armed terrorists, killing three. Coalition Forces also found grenades and assault vests in the orchard.
In a follow-on operation Friday morning, Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist in a building north of Fallujah for his alleged ties to al-Qaeda senior leaders.
Also Friday, Coalition Forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq commander allegedly involved in IED attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces southwest of Baghdad Friday morning. Ten suspected terrorists were detained for their ties to the senior leader.
Two coordinated operations in Taji targeted an al-Qaeda senior leader and his network. Coalition Forces detained seven individuals linked to a group allegedly responsible for mortar and rocket attacks against Coalition Forces; IED and vehicle-borne IED attacks across western Baghdad; and the bombing of the Sarafiyah bridge.
Iraqi Army Soldiers seize explosives, weapons during maritime operation in western Iraq
BALAD – Iraqi Army Soldiers conducted a maritime operation June 1 seizing explosives and weapons during a cache sweep of river banks and caves in the vicinity of Rawah on the Euphrates River.
With Coalition Forces present as advisors, Iraqi Forces recovered more than 70 pounds of homemade explosives, one 57mm rocket and a sniper rifle.
This seizure will reduce the ability of anti-Iraqi Forces to conduct attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces in the area and deter their ability to exploit river banks in the region.
Suspect arrested, propaganda, IED materials seized
MAHMUDIYAH, IRAQ — Iraqi Army Soldiers conducting a search of a suspected insurgent’s home discovered a cache of propaganda and improvised explosive device materials, near Lutafiyah, Iraq at about 4:10 p.m., May 30.
A patrol from 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and advisors from Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment discovered anti-coalition/anti government books and CDs along with 42 rolls of copper wire, typically used to initiate IEDs.
The patrol detained the owner of the house. Detainee will be held for questioning by the Iraqi Army.
Paratroopers uncover cache north of Sadr City
BAGHDAD — Paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team uncovered a weapons cache north of Sadr City, in the eastern portion of the Iraqi capital June 1.
A tip from a local citizen led the Soldiers to the cache.
It was found in an area known to locals as the “Jaish Al Mahdi Forbidden Zone,” where some rocket attacks on Baghdad’s International Zone have originated.
The cache contained 20 107mm rocket warheads, three fully assembled 107mm rockets, one 60mm mortar and a sandbag full of blasting devices.
An explosive ordnance disposal team arrived soon after the discovery was made and conducted a controlled demolition of the cache.
BAGHDAD – Acting on a tip from a detained insurgent, Iraqi Security Forces captured a suspected key leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq during a raid in Mosul May 29.
The targeted individual is allegedly responsible for constructing both vehicle-borne and emplaced improvised explosive devices that contain chlorine gas in order to attack and kill innocent civilians.
The captured individual is also suspected of assisting in the movement of insurgents from Syria into Iraq.
During a second operation in Tikrit May 29, Iraqi Army Forces detained four individuals believed to be members of the terrorist criminal networks of al-Qaeda in Iraq and Jaysh al-Islam engaged in murder and kidnappings for ransom.
Iraqi Forces also seized materials for building vehicle-borne and emplaced IEDs; weapons and ammunition.
Both operations disrupted terrorist networks intent on launching attacks on innocent civilians and Coalition Forces.
MND-B Soldiers capture two insurgents emplacing IED
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Baghdad Soldiers captured two men attempting to emplace an improvised explosive device on a major road near Dubai, Iraq, north of Baghdad, May 31.
Soldiers from Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment were conducting a mounted patrol searching for insurgents responsible for IED attacks in the area when the incident occurred.
While on the patrol, the troops came across the two men attempting to emplace an IED.
The men ran when the mounted patrol drove up to the emplacement site on a major road, and the Soldiers engaged the men.
Both suspects were detained. Neither was injured during the engagement.
There were no Coalition casualties in the incident.
Upon closer inspection of the site, the Soldiers found two partially buried IEDs, one an 80mm mortar round and the other three 152mm rounds. The site was secured and the IEDs were later disposed of.
The two suspects were held for questioning.
SUSPECTED TERRORIST LEADER, 7 OTHERS DETAINED
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained eight suspected terrorists, including an alleged senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader, in operations Saturday targeting the terrorist network.
Coalition Forces raided a building in Hit while tracking an al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist leader. The ground force detained three suspected terrorists there, one of whom is allegedly the military emir of the area and works directly with other high-level al-Qaeda operatives in Anbar province.
West of Baghdad, Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists, including one individual who allegedly builds and plants improvised explosive devices for use in the Karkh neighborhood of Baghdad. Coalition Forces also found two vehicles known to transport weapons and personnel for al-Qaeda in Iraq operations, which they destroyed on-site.
A suspected member of a vehicle-borne IED cell in Adamiyah was detained during a Coalition Forces raid east of Baghdad. Intelligence reports indicate the individual has also been involved in attacks against Coalition Forces.
Coalition Forces surrounded a target northeast of Fallujah looking for a suspected member of the al-Qaeda in Iraq network involved in car theft and weapons transport. While the ground force was searching a building, an armed man emerged from a nearby building and engaged the force with small arms fire. Coalition Forces returned fire in self-defense, killing the armed man. No suspects were detained at the scene.
