Good News From The War On Terror 7/15
Setback for al-Qaida operatives in Diyala
BAQOUBA, Iraq – Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces, using tips from local citizens, targeted al-Qaida operatives outside Diyala’s provincial capital July 11, in a continued effort to deny any safe-haven to the terrorist group.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, and 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted Operation Ithaca, targeting al-Qaida operatives near the villages of Haimer, Abu Nasim, and Jamil, Iraq, resulting in 29 al-Qaida gunmen killed, 23 detained, eight hostages released, two weapons caches discovered and a safe house destroyed.
25th Combat Aviation Brigade helicopters kicked off the operation early Thursday morning with Soldiers from Company B, 5-73 Cav. conducting an air assault into the objective areas. Throughout the operation, Soldiers identified numerous gunmen moving along the palm groves and water canals attempting to escape.
An al-Qaida safe house was also identified with gunmen moving in and out of the building. 25th CAB attack helicopters engaged and killed the gunmen fleeing the area along canals and palm groves, and helped destroy the safe house with Hellfire missiles.
The caches consisted of small-arms munitions, mortars, improvised explosive device making material and other enemy propaganda.
While patrolling the Abu Tauma village, eight hostages, who previously suffered severe beatings and lashings, were freed and transferred to a Coalition medical facility for treatment.
Coalition Forces detain 13 suspected al-Qaeda operatives
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 13 suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq Saturday and Sunday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and suppliers.
Coalition Forces conducted a precision raid Saturday near Samarra and captured an alleged foreign terrorist facilitator and logistician suspected of supplying al-Qaeda cells with operatives and suicide bombers.
After Coalition Forces cornered the targeted individual and two of his associates, the three men fled into a nearby house. Coalition Forces yelled for the house’s occupants to come out, and several women and children exited the building. The ground forces moved the civilians away from danger and entered the house, where they detained the three suspected terrorists.
Coalition Forces captured two suspected terrorists during a Sunday morning operation southwest of Baghdad. One of the men has alleged close ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of the Southern Belts, and is believed to be involved in kidnappings, attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces, and attacks against civilians.
Coalition Forces captured two targeted individuals southwest of Baghdad Sunday. The men, who are brothers, are suspected of involvement with a weapons dealer and foreign terrorist facilitator who supplies al-Qaeda in Iraq with weapons and operatives.
North of Baghdad, Coalition Forces targeted a suspected terrorist involved in planning chlorine vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks. The ground forces detained six individuals on the scene for their alleged connections to the bomber.
Operation Eagle Ares brings 46 into custody
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers nabbed 46 men suspected of involvement with al Qaeda affiliated terror networks July 12 under the cover of darkness, east of Lutifiyah, Iraq.
Troops of the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., air assaulted in the area, and then began searching reeds along canals for weapons caches.
The combined air assault detained 29 men on the Iraqi army’s list of persons of interest, and 14 others who were identified by sources as terrorists. Three other men detained were taken for questioning on suspicion of terrorist activity.
The detainees were taken to FOB Mahmudiyah for questioning.
