Good News From The War On Terror 6/3
BAGHDAD - Iraqi Special Operations Forces conducted an early morning intelligence driven operation June 3 targeting a suspected senior militia leader. The targeted individual is responsible for coordinating and conducting kidnappings, small arms attacks against innocent civilians and Coalition Forces, inciting sectarian violence and directing the placement of improvised explosive devices.
The operation centered on a government building in Baghdad where the targeted individual was believed to be located.
While conducting this operation, ISOF came under heavy small arms fire from unknown insurgents. ISOF suppressed the attack with well-aimed fire.
Acting on previous intelligence, ISOF raided the Iraqi government building but determined the targeted individual was not present. ISOF continues to search for his whereabouts.
This is one in a series of raids that ISOF is conducting in support of Baghdad's security plan Fardh al-Qanoon.
IRAQI SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES DETAIN TWO SUSPECTED INSURGENTS DURING MORNING RAID
BAGHDAD - Iraqi Special Operations Forces apprehended a cell leader for a militant terrorist group during an early morning raid south of Baghdad June 2.
With Coalition Forces present as advisors, ISOF detained their primary suspect and a second individual who was present during the operation without incident.
Acting on previous intelligence, Iraqi Forces detained the individuals for allegedly being responsible for numerous rocket attacks against Coalition Forces and constructing and placing improvised explosive devices and mines.
During the raid, ISOF confiscated an insurgent identification card, propaganda and weapons. The weapons were an AK-47 rifle with a 100 round drum magazine and an Iranian made sniper rifle.
AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES MEMBERS DETAIN PANJWAYI REGION TALIBAN COMMANDER
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - On May 31, Afghan National Security Forces combat advised and assisted by Coalition forces detained a Taliban commander while conducting a combat mission 47 kilometers southwest of Kandahar to disrupt enemy activity in the Panjawayi region of Kandahar Province.
After gaining information on the whereabouts of Mullah Sher Mohammad, a Zharie-Panjwayi region Taliban commander, ANSF members quickly moved in and detained him at a compound in the village of Kanowzai.
No shots were fired and there were no Afghan civilians were injured during the successful mission.
Over the past year, Sher Mohammad has led groups of Taliban fighters in attacks against Afghan National Security Forces in Maywand, Zharie, and Panjwayi, resulting in the injuries and deaths of dozens of innocent Afghan civilians. He was also responsible for kidnapping four interpreters and the subsequent brutal murder of three.
ROCKET ATTACK FOILED - INSURGENT ROCKET TEAM ENGAGED, FOUR KILLED, SIX CAPTURED
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Attack helicopter crews from the 1st "Attack" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, in a coordinated operation with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, killed four terrorists, apprehended six suspects and destroyed one van and multiple rockets that were aimed toward the International Zone in eastern Baghdad June 2.
The Apache helicopter team was alerted to the area when terrorists were spotted setting up multiple rocket firing positions aimed at the International Zone.
"This operation against an enemy rocket team shows the awesome capability and lethality my aircrews display every day," said Lt. Col. Christopher Walach, commander of the 1-227th Aviation Regiment.
In all, four terrorists were killed, one vehicle destroyed and 10 rockets destroyed in the Apache Longbow engagement. There was no collateral damage observed during the engagement.
Following the destruction of the equipment by the attack helicopters, Soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team pursued six suspects observed fleeing the scene of the foiled rocket attack. They tailed the suspects to a residence inside Sadr City and apprehended them.
The six suspects were then transported to the nearby Sadr City Joint Security Station for questioning.
IRAQI ARMY SOLDIERS KILL TWO INSURGENTS, CAPTURE ANOTHER NEAR BALAD
BALAD - Iraqi Army soldiers killed two insurgents linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq and detained two other suspected insurgents southwest of Balad Air Base during an early morning raid searching for two missing U.S. Soldiers on June 1.
With Coalition Forces advising the raid, Iraqi soldiers entered the targeted building to detain the suspect. Upon entry enemy fighters fired from inside and outside the building, with well-aimed fire Iraqi and Coalition Forces killed two enemy fighters while wounding the primary objective.
After receiving enemy fire, Iraqi soldiers discovered a "booby-trapped" improvised explosive device cache. More Coalition Forces arrived and destroyed the cache with a controlled detonation.
ISF, MARINES KILL AQI, DESTROY TRUCK BOMB FACTORY
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces killed seven members of Al Qaeda in Iraq, detained eight suspects and destroyed a truck bomb factory in the Sina'ee district of Fallujah Saturday.
The combined operation was conducted by the Fallujah Police,
Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division and Marines from Regimental Combat Team 6 after receiving information from local sources.At 7:05 a.m., Fallujah Police came under small-arms fire and
identified two men fleeing from the scene wearing suicide vests and carrying fragmentation grenades. A Marine advisory team with the police returned fire, killing both AQI.Soon thereafter, five additional AQI were observed fleeing the
area when Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment engaged the group killing all five and causing a suicide vest to detonate.The gunfight ceased at 9 a.m. and a subsequent search of the
area revealed a compound with two trucks rigged as suicide bombs and additional bomb making materials.Iraqi and Coalition Forces cleared the area, established a perimeter and requested an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team to the scene.
EOD safely conducted a controlled detonation of the truck bombs and materials without damage to nearby buildings.
Eight personnel were detained and taken to the Fallujah
Government Center for questioning.
SUSPECTED TERRORIST BOMBER, TWO OTHERS CAPTURED IN ADHAMIYAH RAID
BAGHDAD - Soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team apprehended the suspected triggerman of a roadside bomb attack during a raid May 31 in the Adhamiyah District of the Iraqi capital.
The suspect was captured during an early morning raid on a residence in the Safina neighborhood. The raid was conducted by Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment. Two other suspects were also taken into custody in addition to the primary suspect.
The suspect is believed to be responsible for detonating the roadside bomb that killed one Soldier and wounded three others May 14.
He is also reputed to have ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq, operating in the area.
PARATROOPERS FIND, DESTROY 24 IEDS IN FIVE DAYS
KALSU, Iraq - Paratroopers found and destroyed 24 improvised explosive devices of various sizes and designs in the northern Babil province in the last five days.
While conducting security patrols in the area, the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division paratroopers found the IEDs before they could be used against Coalition Forces or Iraqi Security Forces.
The devices were either destroyed in place or taken by explosive ordnance disposal teams for further investigation prior to destruction.
SEVEN DETAINED, VBIED DESTROYED IN COALITION RAIDS
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces detained seven suspected terrorists in overnight raids targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in the Mosul and Taji areas.
Two coordinated operations targeted four brothers in Mosul who are suspected of heading and staffing a terrorist cell associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq. Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists in the raids, including two of the brothers, one of whom allegedly leads a group responsible for attacks on Coalition Forces.
During the operation, Coalition Forces found a vehicle rigged as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. A team of explosives experts safely destroyed the VBIED on site.
Coalition Forces raided a suspected al-Qaeda safe house west of Taji and detained two suspected terrorists there. One of the individuals allegedly works directly for an al-Qaeda military emir who coordinates all military operations in the Southern Belt and provides foreign fighters to al-Qaeda cells in Baghdad.
MND-B APACHES DISRUPT ENEMY ATTACK ON AIRCRAFT
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Multi-National Division-Baghdad attack helicopter crews killed four insurgents and destroyed five enemy vehicles carrying heavy anti-aircraft weapons systems May 31 in Baghdad.
Four Apaches from the 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, destroyed bongo trucks that were mounted with heavy anti-aircraft machine guns, and one truck carrying what appeared to the aircrews to be a man-portable air defense system.
“This battle, on a well defended terrorist position proves the awesome lethality and agility my crews display every day with every mission supporting Coalition Forces,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Walach, commander, 1-227th Aviation Regiment. “In a short period, the enemy just could not react to the Apache Longbow crews’ quick actions, superior aerial skills, team work and very accurate and lethal fires all under heavy enemy fire. These aircrews’ actions … contributed significantly to preventing future attacks on Coalition aircraft and Coalition ground units.”
A team of two Apache helicopters were on an area reconnaissance mission at about 6:30 p.m. May 31 while en route to Baghdad International Airport when they noticed vehicles quickly leaving the road after seeing the aircraft. The occupants left the vehicles and hid in nearby ditches.
Coming under fire from three to four heavy machine guns, the crews returned suppressive fire. One vehicle moved near a house, where the Apache crews fired at it, killing one.
The Apache crews saw three of the trucks fleeing the engagement area and observed muzzle flashes from the machine guns mounted on the trucks. The crews engaged the trail vehicle.
The crews fired again and disabled the lead vehicle. The crews continued engaging the vehicles – disabling the three gun trucks and killing three more enemy gunmen.
The crews returned to the truck at the house and destroyed it.
A fifth truck carrying a probable MANPAD system was engaged and also destroyed.
Four insurgents were killed and five vehicles destroyed in the engagement.
