Good News From The War On Terror 6/24
4 terrorists killed, 14 suspects detained in Coalition raids
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed four terrorists and detained 14 suspected terrorists Sunday during operations around Iraq targeting leaders and operatives for al-Qaeda.
Operations south of Hawija targeted a known al-Qaeda terrorist leader who has been operating in Iraq to facilitate the movement of foreign fighters into the country. As Coalition Forces approached the targeted building, four men got into a vehicle and drove away from the area. Coalition Forces followed the men, one of whom was believed to be the targeted terrorist. When the vehicle stopped, the men got out of the vehicle with weapons in hand. Coalition Forces, responding appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged the armed men, killing them.
Inside the vehicle, Coalition Forces found rocket-propelled grenades. They safely destroyed the vehicle and weapons on site and moved to the next targeted building, where they detained four suspected terrorists for their alleged involvement with the al-Qaeda leader.
In Baghdad, Coalition Forces targeted operatives in the al-Qaeda network when they raided two buildings in the city. One man was wounded as Coalition Forces entered the building. He was taken to a military medical facility for treatment. Inside, Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists for their alleged association with al-Qaeda. The ground force also discovered two vehicles that tested positive for explosives residue, which they safely destroyed.
Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq religious leader during a raid west of Taji, and detained four more suspected terrorists for their involvement with the targeted individual.
Coalition operation uncovers multiple caches
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces conducted several raids targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq activities in support of Operation Arrowhead Ripper June 20-22 near Khan Bani Sa’ad.
As the ground force entered the area south of Baqubah, they received small arms fire from a group of armed men. Coalition Forces, responding in self-defense, returned fire, wounding one armed man, before calling in close air support. A Coalition aircraft engaged the enemy force, killing five terrorists and wounding one suspected terrorist. The two wounded individuals were taken to a military medical facility for treatment.
During the 48-hour operation, Coalition Forces discovered a terrorist safe house, containing weapons, handcuffs, ammunition, stretchers, black masks and homemade explosives.
Ground forces also found during the two-day operation several weapons caches containing mortars, rockets, chemicals used for making explosives, and a stolen fire department vehicle. Additionally, Coalition Forces found a vehicle in a palm grove rigged as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. All the weapons and explosives were safely destroyed on site.
Six al-Qaeda killed, five detained near Karmah
BAGHDAD – Six al-Qaeda members were killed and five were detained following a series of early-morning raids in the vicinity of Karmah June 21.
The individuals are believed to be responsible for numerous terrorist incidents, to include kidnappings, murder and improvised explosive device attacks against coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. Members of the cell are also believed to be responsible for the Feb. 7 shoot down of a U.S. Marine CH-46 helicopter that resulted in the deaths of seven Marines.
With Coalition Forces present as advisers, Iraqi Security Forces entered two residences and discovered a computer, various weapons, identification cards and propaganda materials.
Troops return to scene to find second weapons cache
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers discovered several caches during clearing operations in the East Rashid Security District of the Iraqi capital June 22.
Acting on a tip from neighborhood residents, Stryker troops from Company A, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, seized a cache consisting of 17 60mm mortar rounds, one Dragunov SVD sniper rifle, 18 armor piercing rounds for the sniper rifle, more than 700 loose small arms ammunition, cell phones, cell phone initiators used in the creation of roadside bombs and 10 blasting caps.
The Attack Company Soldiers found the cache in an area they had previously cleared and discovered a sizeable cache of mortar systems, weapons and munitions.
Also, Soldiers of Co. C, 1st Bn., 38th Infantry located another smaller cache, also marking the second consecutive productive day of clearing by the “Chaos” Company troopers.
Neighborhood watch members lead Iraqi Army to Cache
TAJI, Iraq — A large cache of mortars and improvised explosive device-making material was revealed by members of a “neighborhood watch” to the Iraqi Army June 22.
During a foot patrol, members of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) received a tip from volunteers participating as a part of a neighborhood watch in Falahat, a village in Taji. On arrival at the location given in the tip, the Iraqi troops uncovered the buried cache.
The cache contained 39 mortar rounds, 30 pounds of high-explosive, a landmine, and an assortment of other material used to make IEDs. The items were transported to Camp Taji for proper disposal.
“The actions of these volunteers prove they are committed to preserving the security in their community,” said Lt. Col. Peter Andrysiak, deputy commander of the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. “This is a very promising sign that the residents in this community are denying a safe haven to the insurgents and that the tribal leaders are serious about reconciling their differences with the Coalition and the Iraqi government. It also demonstrates their confidence in the Iraqi Security Forces, as they turn to them vice Coalition Forces.”
The neighborhood watch is made up of a group of 500 volunteers who are currently being vetted for possible future selection for training as Iraqi Police or some other organization in the Iraqi Security Forces. The volunteers are members of a number of tribes in the Taji area who want reconciliation with the Coalition and the Iraqi government.
IA, CF discover IED factory after receiving tips
TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces conducted a joint raid, discovering a large factory used to make home-made explosives, improvised explosive devices and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices Saturday, in Mosul, Iraq.
Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army, and Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry conducted the raid after receiving a tip on the location of the factory. The factory consisted of three main sites where each of the HME, IED and VBIEDs were manufactured.
The site consisted of three separate buildings with one building used to prepare VBIEDs, a second used as an HME/IED factory and the third, a storage area for VBIED and IED-making materials. Each of these buildings was connected by a tunnel that had openings into each part of the structure.
VBIED and IED factories were also found at the second and third sites. IA and CF detained 32 suspects and discovered several vehicles, one being a truck originating from southern Iraq, which was being prepared for use as a VBIED. Also in the buildings was detonation cord, bags of HME, propane tanks and other IED making materials.
Once all three sites were cleared, the entire compound was destroyed by air strikes and Explosive Ordnance Disposal, ensuring that no explosives or munitions remained.
