Good News From The War On Terror 6/20-6/21
MND-B SOLDIERS CAPTURE SUSPECTED BOMB-MAKER, 13 OTHERS
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers captured a suspected member of an alleged bomb-making cell in Sab al Bor, Iraq June 19.
Soldiers from Battery C, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, captured the suspect using information from intelligence sources. In all, the unit detained 14 suspects for questioning during the operation.
The raid was part of a large-scale, sector-wide initiative to eliminate threats to Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces, and to curb violence in the area north of the Iraqi capital.
3-1 CAV. SEIZES MULTIPLE CACHES NEAR JISR DIYALA
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, who are currently attached to 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, seized multiple caches June 17 near Tuwaitha as a part of Coalition Forces' efforts to eliminate insurgent sanctuaries southeast of Baghdad.
The unit conducted Operation Destroyer Strike based on intelligence gathered from local citizens. The operation was a part of a larger effort, Operation Marne Torch, being conducted by Multi-National Division-Center.
Troops cleared two target locations to seize caches and disrupt insurgent activity. Four individuals were detained attempting to flee at the first objective. One of the detainees is suspected of making road-side bombs for Al Qaeda, while another provided additional information on cache sites.
Thomas further explained that the intelligence led to six additional searches and the detention of a suspected sniper believed to be working for the Mahdi Army.
Capt. Brian Gilbert, Co. D commander, of Boise, Idaho, was in command of all Soldiers in the operation, and has almost daily contact with local leaders and members of the city council. Gilbert spoke with local citizens and city council members following the operation.
Gilbert explained that the first objective was a large farm. Its owner was killed by Al Qaeda, according to local citizens, who also claim that Al Qaeda fighters used the farm as a training area.
Items found in the cache included 54 mortar rounds, two artillery rounds, 29 cell phones, 29 nine-volt battery connectors and more than 20 circuit boards - all commonly used in the manufacturing of improvised explosive devices. Four rockets, five AK-47 assault rifles, a .50-caliber machine gun, and Iraqi Security Forces' body armor were also found.
The 3-1 Cav. and the 1-15 Inf. are assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga.
MNC-I CONDUCTS OPERATION PHANTOM THUNDER
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Corps-Iraq launched major offensive operations, Operation Phantom Thunder, June 16 in a powerful crackdown to defeat extremists in Iraq.
With the surge of U.S. forces complete, simultaneous operations throughout Iraq are focused on rooting out al-Qaeda terrorists and other extremist elements in order to provide security and stability for all Iraqis.
This coordinated effort includes Operation Arrowhead Ripper aimed at eliminating terrorists operating around Baquoba and the Diyala province. The operation has killed at least 30 al-Qaeda terrorists and netted numerous caches containing assault weapons, grenades, rocket launchers and large and small caliber ammunition and explosives.
Operation Fardh al-Qanoon in Baghdad continues to hunt elements of al-Qaeda and illegal militias. These missions are dismantling illegal support networks and capabilities that allow the enemy to move personnel and weapons into the city and stage attacks. This effort has also proven successful in the killing or capture of key leaders and cell members who belong to extremist groups.
To the southeast of Baghdad, Operation Marne Torch is focused on the clearing of extremist sanctuaries located in the Arab Jabour area. Four insurgents have been killed and more than 60 detained. In addition, 17 boats were destroyed, significantly disrupting insurgent operations on the Tigris River.
In Al Anbar, Coalition Forces continue to work with Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army forces by engaging insurgents and al-Qaeda elements in more rural areas. These operations are helping to interdict the enemy along the belts between Baghdad, Fallujah, Ramadi and the cities of the Western Euphrates River Valley to support the larger Baghdad security plan.
COALITION TAKES 11 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS OUT OF AL-QAEDA'S NETWORK
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces detained 11 suspected terrorists Wednesday and Thursday during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Wednesday morning, Coalition Forces conducted two operations in Mosul targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders in the area. Two suspected terrorists were detained for their suspected involvement with a Kurdish extremist in the al-Qaeda network and a terrorist emir of western Mosul.
Thursday, Coalition Forces raided five buildings east of Karmah searching for an al-Qaeda in Iraq emir suspected of attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi infrastructure. The ground force captured three suspected terrorists, including an alleged subordinate of the al-Qaeda emir. East of Fallujah, a raid targeting associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders netted four suspected terrorists.
North of Baghdad Thursday, Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists for their association with a key member of the al-Qaeda in Iraq network linked to several terrorist groups and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks.
IRAQI SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES DETAIN INSURGENT LEADER IN SADR CITY
BAGHDAD - Iraqi Special Operations Forces conducted an early morning operation June 20 and detained a key insurgent leader in Sadr City.
This individual is allegedly responsible for coordinating and conducting kidnappings, death squad killings and improvised explosive device attacks against innocent civilians and Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
During the operation, Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained their primary suspect without incident. Iraqi SOF also detained two other suspicious individuals who were present during the operation.
The primary suspect is allegedly responsible for supplying vehicles, identification materials, and uniforms to support insurgent activities such as the kidnappings and extra-judicial killing of Iraqi citizens. He is also alleged to have received new technologies to upgrade improvised explosive devices that would be used to target Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
IRAQI FORCES BREAK UP SNIPER CELL, DETAIN FIVE
TAJI - Iraqi Forces conducted an early-morning raid June 19 to breakup a terrorist sniper cell in the Bayji area of northern Iraq.
During the raid, Iraqi Forces successfully raided the target objectives, detaining their primary suspect and four others for further questioning.
Besides the five individuals detained, Iraqi Forces confiscated a sniper rifle, three AK-47 assault rifles, a 9mm pistol, associated ammunition as well as improvised explosive device making materials.
OPERATION COMMANDO EAGLE STARTS OFF STRONG
MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq - A joint operation geared toward curbing terrorist activity southwest of Baghdad is yielding results almost immediately.
Operation Commando Eagle, a mix of helicopter-borne air assaults and Humvee-mounted movements, included Soldiers from several battalions of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., and the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division.
The operation, which began today, targeted a series of houses which local citizens indicated were being used by al-Qaeda cells to intimidate them and launch attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
Troops of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT, detained three men when their truck was found to contain documents requesting rockets as well as a spool of copper wire, commonly used to build improvised explosive devices.
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, IA Division found a cache containing four AK-47s, a 60mm mortar tube with three rounds, an SKS rigged with sniper optics, three bolt-action rifles, a camcorder with tapes, a roll of copper wire, 20 homemade grenades, four ski masks, 75 CDs of propaganda and terror techniques instructing methods to commit kidnappings and to shoot down coalition helicopters, and various other IED-making materials.
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd BCT discovered multiple series of caches during the operation.
The first cache complex contained five AK-47s with three magazines, a roll of IED wire and a shotgun.
A second cache included seven AK-47s.
The third complex included an anti-tank mine, an anti-personnel mine, two rocket propelled grenade rounds, an RPG launcher and multiple pounds of TNT.
Task Force 2-15 detained 16 individuals.
Company A, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment detained nine men and Troop B, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment detained four, all wanted for terrorist attacks or for possessing illegal weapons.
Commando Eagle was named after the 2nd BCT, known as the Commandos, and the 4th Bde, 6th IA, called the Baghdad Eagles.
The caches were seized and disposed of.
The individuals are being held for questioning.
