Good News From The War On Terror 6/30
Hazardous materials in containers removed from massive cache site
BAGHDAD — When the second largest cache of Operation Iraqi Freedom was found earlier in the month, not only did Mulit-National Division – Baghdad troops spring into action, but Coalition Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) teams also arrived on the scene.
Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment “Tomahawks”, attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Division, cleaned up the cache, which included hundreds of containers filled with nitric acid, June 12-15, in the eastern Rashid District of the Iraqi capital.
Nitric acid is a toxic substance that is used to make homemade explosives. Coalition chemical assessments indicate that nitric acid stockpiles in excess of 500 pounds have a potential to be a catastrophic event when combined with other ingredients to make explosive material. An estimated 15,000 pounds of nitric acid was removed from the cache site by MND-B troops in three days of around-the-clock work.
“Nitric acid can be added to explosives to increase yield, will damage skin on contact and lungs by inhalation,” said 1st Lt. David Pegueros, a chemical officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th BCT. “When distilled or combined with other homemade explosive materials, it can be as explosive as TNT.”June 11, when the Tomahawks were notified that a cache of hundreds of containers of nitric acid were found in the eastern portion of the Rashid District, it was determined that the brigade’s excavation assets would be used to help clean up the site, with assistance from Multi-National Corps-Iraq.
A total of 779 five-gallon containers of the toxic substance were found buried at the cache site, which also included hundreds of mines and large air-droppable bombs, as well as four car bombs. All of the conventional explosives were removed and disposed of by explosive ordnance disposal teams, but the nitric acid presented a different challenge for troops.
Soldiers dug up and safely removed 400 jugs of sealed nitric acid June 12, and returned the next day continued to move 307 sealed and partially leaking containers out of the area.
The HAZMAT team arrived, June 14, to remove 72 severely leaking containers.
June 15, two HAZMAT teams worked to complete the removal of the damaged containers, which were then safely transported to a Coalition Forces installation for proper disposal.
16 suspected of attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Forces detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 16 suspected terrorists during operations Saturday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in Ninawa and Anbar provinces.
In Karmah, Coalition Forces conducted two coordinated operations targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of the area. The ground force raided four buildings and detained 12 suspects for their alleged involvement with the terrorist leader, whose network is responsible for attacks against civilians, infrastructure, and Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
Coalition Forces in Mosul targeted an al-Qaeda leader who manages a cell of more than 100 terrorists responsible for attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces. During a raid of two buildings, the ground force detained four suspected terrorists linked to the cell.
Two Separate Raids Net 17 Suspected Secret Cell Terrorists; Approximately 26 Killed
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces conducted two separate raids targeting suspected secret cell terrorists during pre-dawn hours Saturday in Sadr City. It is believed that the suspected terrorists have close ties to Iranian terror networks and are responsible for facilitating the flow of lethal aid into Iraq.
Coalition Forces encountered significant small arms fire and multiple improvised explosive device (IED) attacks during the operations. Coalition Forces armored vehicles used proper escalation of force rules to engage four civilian vehicles. Coalition Forces also received multiple attacks with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). Coalition Forces killed an estimated 26 terrorists and detained seventeen suspected secret cell terrorists during the two operations.
Operation Golden Eagle II detains 59
LUTIFIYAH, Iraq — A combined Iraqi-Coalition Forces operation netted 41 individuals on the Iraqi army’s persons of interest list June 27.
Operation Golden Eagle II was an early morning ground assault to prevent insurgents from creating a base of operations north of Lutifiyah.
Troops of the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division working with the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., searched the area and questioned nearly 400 people and detained 59. The individuals on the Iraqi army’s list of persons of interest are wanted for suspected terrorist activities.
The troops found a 60mm mortar in the area.
Iraqi Special Operation Forces detain insurgent leader
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained a rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi insurgent leader during an operation in Nasiriyah, June 28.
During the operation, ISOF detained their primary suspect without incident and also detained five other suspicious individuals present during the operation.
The primary suspect is allegedly responsible for direct attacks on Coalition Forces, rocket attacks on Coalition bases and has been implicated in the kidnappings and murder of Iraqi citizens. It is also believed he provides financial support to weapons trafficking networks which supply rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi units in the Baghdad area.
MND-B Apache crews find, destroy homemade explosive cache
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division-Baghdad attack helicopter crews found and destroyed a large homemade explosive cache northwest of Baghdad June 29.
Apache crews from 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, were on a reconnaissance mission when they discovered the cache, which may have been intended for use in improvised explosive devices or car bombs.
The Apache crews spotted the white, powdery substance and were cleared by ground forces to destroy it. The crews fired on the substance which led to a 300-feet high secondary explosion, confirming that the substance was homemade explosives. The Apache crew destroyed a nearby facility to prevent its future use by terrorists for manufacturing explosives.
Iraqi Army detains five Al-Qaeda in Iraq members in Al Doura
BAGHDAD – The Iraqi Army detained five suspected Al-Qaeda-Iraq cell members in the southern area of Baghdad area June 29. The Iraqi forces detained the primary suspects without incident.
The suspected terrorists are allegedly responsible for several attacks on Coalition Forces. In particular, this terrorist cell and its members are accused of coordinating a complex attack on Coalition Forces on June 29, 2007, emplacing improvised explosive devices against Coalition Force patrols and organizing sniper attacks on Coalition Forces.
Iraq Forces also seized computers, cell phones and weapons used in the terrorist cell operation. This operation will disrupt a major terrorist cell in Al Doura.
