Good News From The War On Terror 6/27
Iraqi Army destroys weapons cache near Nasiriyah
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army forces destroyed a large weapons cache during an early morning operation June 26 southeast of Nasiriyah. The cache is linked to a rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi (JAM) militant group.
During the operation, the Iraqi Forces discovered the substantial cache in a building believed to belong to rogue elements of the militant group. Iraqi forces also detained a suspicious individual present during the operation.
After determining that moving the ordnance posed an unacceptable risk, Iraqi Forces immediately evacuated all civilians from the surrounding area. After ensuring all civilians were moved to a safe distance, the Iraqi Forces used controlled charges to destroy the cache, minimizing damage to the surrounding areas. The cache included 30 60-millimeter rounds, 2 120-millimeter rounds, 40 155-millimeter rounds, 30 240-millimeter rounds and an anti-aircraft weapon. There were no civilian injuries.
Five suspected al-Qaeda terrorists detained in operation east of Baqubah
BALAD RUZ – Iraqi Army Forces detained five suspected Al Qaeda terrorists during an operation June 25 near Balad Ruz in southern Diyala Province. The operation is aimed at disrupting the terrorists’ freedom of movement in southern Diyala Province.
Iraqi Forces successfully raided the target objectives and detained the five suspected terrorists without incident. Coalition Forces were present as advisors.
In addition to the detainees, Iraqi Forces also seized an 82 mm mortar system, 4,300 rounds of belt-fed machine gun ammunition, 650 anti-aircraft gun rounds, four high explosive rocket propelled grenades, four armor piercing rocket propelled grenades, a blue Opal automobile, a large amount of Iraqi currency and assorted propaganda.
Taji’s “Neighborhood Watch” turns over another cache
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — For a second time this week, a large cache consisting of improvised explosive device-making material and mortar rounds was turned over to Coalition Forces by the “Neighborhood Watch” in Taji, Iraq.
The Taji neighborhood watch contacted Coalition Forces June 25, after the driver of a truck fled the scene when the volunteers stopped a suspicious vehicle moving through the rural village of Abd Allah al Jasim. The vehicle contained 24 mortar rounds, two rockets, spare machine gun barrels, small arms ammunition and other IED-making material.
“This grassroots movement of reconciliation by the volunteers is taking off all around us. The tribes that had once actively or passively supported al-Qaeda in Iraq now want them out,” said Lt. Col. Peter Andrysiak, the deputy commander of the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
The neighborhood watch is made up of a group of 500 volunteers, from a number of tribes in the area, who want reconciliation with the Coalition Forces and the Iraqi government. The volunteers are currently being vetted for possible future selection for training as Iraqi Police or some other organization within the Iraqi Security Forces.
IA, CF apply ‘relentless’ pressure on insurgents, detain 25
MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces detained 25 suspected insurgents in a series of raids in Mosul and Tal Afar on June 26.
Two detainees captured in one raid possessed electronic media of attacks on CF.
Another raid, west of Mosul, uncovered the body of a murdered local civilian. A cache of weapons containing a PKC machine gun, several AK-47s and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition were found and 17 suspected AIF were detained.
In a third raid, northeast of Mosul, six more arrests were made. One of the suspects is on the “most wanted list” for making improvised explosive devices and vehicle attacks. Multiple fake IDs, switches, relays, spools of wire and disassembled cell phones were also seized from the residence.
High-level senior al-Qaeda leader killed during Coalition operations
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces positively identified two terrorists killed in an operation June 23 south of Hawija.
Mehmet Yilmaz, also known as Khalid al-Turki, was a known terrorist and senior leader in al-Qaeda who operated a cell that facilitated the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq for al-Qaeda operations.
Yilmaz was positively identified through photo comparison and a forged Iraqi personal identification card was also found on him.
Yilmaz was an al-Qaeda leader who led a group of Turks to Afghanistan in 2001 to fight against Coalition Forces. Intelligence reports indicate he was wounded in the fighting there and went to Pakistan for treatment, where he was captured by the government in 2004 and deported to Turkey. He was released in late 2005 and returned to al-Qaeda operations in 2006, moving his operations to Iraq. Turkish authorities are also investigating several terrorist operations that may have involved Yilmaz.
Yilmaz was killed when Coalition Forces targeted him during an operation south of Hawija. 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 Yilmaz. 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.
Also killed in the operation was Mehmet Resit Isik, also known as Khalil al-Turki, a close associate of Yilmaz who was assessed to be a courier for the same al-Qaeda cell and a close associate of Yilmaz and senior leaders within al-Qaeda.
MND-B troops discover multiple roadside bombs, defeat insurgent attacks
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers discovered a total of 11 roadside bombs and defeated several insurgent attacks in the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital June 25 and 26.
Troops from the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment “Warriors” discovered six roadside bombs June 25 and 26 while conducting operations in East Rashid. The Soldiers received information from local residents which assisted them in identifying the explosives before they could be used against Coalition Forces, Iraqi Security Forces or the local populace. A Coalition explosive ordnance disposal teams destroyed the devices in place.
The 4th IBCT’s “Ironclaw” route clearance teams found two roadside bombs while conducting operations in East Rashid June 26. Additionally, Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment “Tomahawks” discovered a pair of roadside bombs, while troopers from the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment “Raiders” also found one improvised explosive device. All bombs were disposed of by EOD teams without incident.
MND-B forces inflicted casualties on enemy forces in two separate engagements occurring in East Rashid over a 24-hour period.
Two extremists engaged Soldiers from the 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Regt., with a rocket-propelled grenade attack in the early morning hours June 25. No one was injured in the attack in the Doura neighborhood of East Rashid, but the Soldiers were able to capture one of their attackers.
On June 26, several extremists engaged a U.S. patrol with small arms fire. After an aerial weapons team was called in and attack helicopters positively identified the gunmen, two extremists were killed in the air-to-ground engagement. A third extremist was wounded and later detained.
The wounded extremist received aid from a nearby house. Troops detained four more suspects for further questioning.
Iraqi Security Forces detain members of Al Qaeda cell in Mosul
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces detained five suspected members of an Al Qaeda cell during an operation near Mosul June 25.
Iraqi Forces successfully raided the target objectives and detained the five suspected terrorists without incident. Coalition Forces were present as advisors. This operation is aimed at disrupting a terrorist cell in the eastern Mosul district of Aden.
Besides the detainees, ISF also confiscated AK-47 rifles, ammunition and cell phones.
