Good News From The War On Terror 7/13
Coalition Forces kill two terrorists, capture 19 suspects
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed two terrorists and detained 19 suspected terrorists during operations in central and western Iraq Friday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and their associates.
Coalition Forces targeted the leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq during coordinated raids on several buildings in Tarmiyah. As Coalition Forces entered one of the buildings, two men charged the ground forces and attempted to assault them. Coalition Forces, reacting in self-defense, engaged the two men, killing them. Another man was injured by a ricochet bullet from the engagement and was taken to a military medical facility.
During the raids, Coalition Forces detained six suspected terrorists, including a targeted individual who is an alleged weapons facilitator in Anbar province and closely tied to al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders.
A separate raid in Tarmiyah netted two more suspected terrorists tied to the religious emir of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
West of Taji, Coalition Forces conducted operations on two buildings in search of a close associate of the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of Karmah. The ground forces captured eight suspected terrorists, including the targeted individual, who is allegedly involved in conducting terrorist attacks, coordinating suicide operations and importing weapons from abroad.
Coalition Forces raided two buildings in southwestern Baghdad and detained three suspected terrorists allegedly tied to the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of Baghdad.
Dragons’ Operation ‘Hammers’ enemy
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division - Baghdad troops detained more than 100 suspected insurgents and seized more than 200 weapons caches during Operation Dragon Hammer in the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital July 1 -11.
The operation, launched by the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team “Dragons,” 1st Infantry Division, was aimed at rooting out suspected terrorists; interdicting their supplies; and helping the elected Iraqi government secure the southern Baghdad district.
Between July 1-11, 101 suspects were detained, including suspected leaders of Al Qaeda in Iraq and rogue elements of Jayesh Al Mahdi. One suspect, believed to be an Al Qaeda cell leader, was killed July 9.
During this time, Dragon Brigade Soldiers located 237 weapons caches which included two intact explosively formed penetrator devices, one complete 120mm mortar system, 37 mortar rounds and various other IED-making materials; and numerous small arms and small arms ammunition
On July 11, alone, 11 suspected Al Qaeda members were detained in the Massafee area during a targeted raid. Soldiers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 4th IBCT, launched the raid to capture suspected terrorists in order to disrupt Al Qaeda activities in the area.
The suspects were detained for further questioning.
MND-B aircrews destroy homemade explosive factory, cache
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division-Baghdad attack helicopter crews destroyed a homemade explosive factory and cache July 12 northwest of Baghdad.
An AH-64D Apache team from 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, first observed two buildings that appeared to be part of an HME factory during a reconnaissance mission July 5.
An air assault was planned to establish whether the buildings were used to manufacture the explosive, frequently used by terrorists in roadside and car bombs.
The air assault, Operation Eagles, launched at approximately 2 a.m. July 12, with two UH-60 Black Hawks from 3rd “Spearhead” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, transporting Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div. to the potential HME site.
The 1-37th FA Soldiers were inserted near the site and confirmed that the buildings were used to manufacture explosives. The Soldiers also found an anti-aircraft weapon in the buildings and two trailers and eight vehicles at the site.
After getting clearance from the ground forces, the Apache helicopter crews fired on the buildings, destroying them and the anti-aircraft weapon system. The Apaches also destroyed the two trailers and fired on the vehicles.
Taji’s “Neighborhood Watch” turns over fourth cache in two weeks
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — For a fourth time in two weeks, a large cache of improvised explosive device-making material and mortar rounds was turned over to Coalition Forces by the “Neighborhood Watch” in Taji, Iraq July 9.
The cache contained more than 20 mortar rounds, multiple makeshift mortar tubes and mortar fuses. Also in the cache were IED timing devices and IED detonation material.
This is the fourth time since the establishment of a Coalition outpost in Falahat, a village near Taji, north of the Iraqi capital, that weapons caches have been turned in or identified to Soldiers from Troop D, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, who man the outpost. Thus far, six caches have been removed from the village, two discovered by Coalition and Iraqi Army troops patrolling the area.
The “Neighborhood Watch” is made up of a group of 500 local volunteers, tribe members in the Taji area who want reconciliation with the Coalition and the Iraqi government. These volunteers are currently being vetted for possible future selection for training as Iraqi Police or some other organization within the Iraqi Security Forces.
U.S. Special Forces apprehend high-level Al-Qaeda cell leader
BAGHDAD – U.S. Special Forces and Iraqi Security Forces detained an alleged high-level Al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist cell leader July 13 at Baghdad International Airport.
The alleged cell leader turned himself in to U.S. Special Forces and Iraqi Security Forces without a struggle and is currently in U.S. custody for questioning.
The alleged cell leader has reportedly targeted Coalition Forces, distributed mortars, organized and ordered vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks. He is believed to operate out of the Karh district of Baghdad, along with Mahmudiyah and the Arab Jabour districts.
Iraqi Forces detain sniper cell leader in Bayji
BAYJI, Iraq – Elements of the 4th Iraqi Army Brigade detained the leader of a terrorist sniper cell in Bayji during an intelligence driven operation in Bayji July 12. The targeted individual is allegedly responsible for leading attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces, including attacks against the joint security site in downtown Bayji.
Two other individuals were also detained during the operation. One other member of this cell had been previously captured last month. Iraqi Forces, with U.S. Special Operations Forces as advisors, also confiscated an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and computer equipment.
Iraqi citizen leads Soldiers to caches in known terrorist safe haven
QARGHULI VILLAGE, Iraq — An Iraqi citizen who has been working with Coalition Forces during the past week led them to two caches in Qarghuli Village, Iraq, a known terrorist safe haven.
The local resident accompanied Soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment “Polar Bears,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., on a dismounted patrol in the village July 12 and led them to two caches.
The caches consisted of a rack system, a video camera, a 61mm fuze, a spool of command wire used to make improvised explosive devices, 44 Dragonov sniper rounds and a 155mm round.
During the past few days the Iraqi residents have led the Polar Bears to more than 14 caches in the village.
“The people of Qarghuli Village coming forward to help the Iraqi and Coalition Forces is a positive sign that they are willing to take more responsibility in their own security,” said Maj. Kenny Mintz, the 2nd BCT operations officer and native of San Diego. “They are taking steps that they have never taken before.”
The contents of the cache were destroyed during a controlled detonation conducted by members of the explosive ordnance team.
13th MEU finds 50,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate
CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq – Marines from Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, discovered 500, one hundred-pound bags of ammonium nitrate July 11.
Marines stopped two 18-wheel tractor trailers while conducting a vehicle check point north of Karmah. The ammonium nitrate, a common ingredient in improvised explosive devices, was found during a search of the vehicles.
Marines are currently conducting operations north of Fallujah and Karmah to search for weapons caches and to deny enemy activities throughout the area.
