Good News From The War On Terror 7/16
Coalition Forces kill 2 terrorist, detain 25 suspects, discover media cell
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed two terrorists and detained 25 suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq Monday targeting al-Qaeda media and bombing operations.
A senior member of an al-Qaeda in Iraq media cell gave himself up to Coalition Forces during a raid in Mosul. In addition to his surrender, the al-Qaeda in Iraq media cell member led Coalition Forces to the media cell headquarters, where they discovered various jihadist propaganda and media materials. Three additional suspected terrorists were detained with the cell leader.
In Baghdad, Coalition Forces conducted a raid targeting a key liaison between al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cells in the city. When the ground forces began clearing the building, one man ran toward the perimeter security element. Coalition Forces, reacting to the perceived hostile threat, engaged the man, killing him. Ground forces detained two suspected terrorists during the operation.
A raid southwest of the capital city targeted close associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. When Coalition Forces began securing the building, one man fled the scene, and began digging in the yard. Coalition Forces pursued the man, who attempted to evade the ground forces. When the ground forces caught up with the man, he attempted to assault an element of the force, and Coalition Forces, reacting in self-defense, engaged the man, killing him. Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists during the raid.
In Ramadi, Coalition Forces captured two suspected terrorists during a precision raid. One is an alleged associate of a terrorist who facilitates the movement of foreign terrorists into Iraq for suicide operations.
Two coordinated raids in Baghdad targeted members of the Baghdad bombing network. Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists linked to an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader overseeing the bombing network, and two more suspected terrorists with ties to an al-Qaeda in Iraq weapons facilitator.
Coalition Forces detained eight suspected terrorists north of Taji during a raid targeting a direct associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders known for using IEDs.
Ambush disrupted; two extremists killed
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces killed two and injured two rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi terrorists conducting an ambush on Iraqi and Coalition Forces operating in Al Kut July 14.
From an over-watch position, Iraqi and Coalition Forces observed several terrorists emplace a command-detonated improvised explosive device near the planned ambush site.
Minutes later, another terrorist shot a rocket-propelled grenade at an Iraqi Security checkpoint to drive security forces toward the ambush site. The operative, who fired the RPG, then used a woman and child as a shield to escape into a nearby house.
Several other rogue JAM operatives then drove down the road and emplaced another device on the opposite side of the checkpoint. The device was believed to have contained an explosively formed penetrator, more commonly called EFP.
Iraqi and Coalition Forces killed two terrorists, injured two others and destroyed both IEDs in the process. The ambush was successfully circumvented with no death or injury to the teams.
MND-C begins new offensive operations
BAGHDAD — Task Force Marne began an offensive today in southern Baghdad to drive out extremists.
Marne Avalanche is an offensive operation aimed at stopping southern Baghdad from being used as a safe haven and preventing the movement of weapons, munitions and insurgents into Baghdad. The operation’s intent is to improve security conditions in southern Baghdad and reduce the influence of insurgents in the area.Marne Avalanche will build on the successes of Task Force Marne’s offensive operation, Marne Torch, which began June 1 and is ongoing.
To date, Operation Marne Torch resulted in 1,152 structures cleared, 83 insurgents killed, 278 insurgents detained, 51 caches found, 51 boats destroyed and 872 citizens entered in a biometric identification system.
Car-bomb factory discovered, destroyed in Qanat Banat Al Hasan
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device factory was discovered and destroyed by Coalition Forces in a rural area west of Saab al bor, Iraq July 14.
While conducting a reconnaissance mission in the Qanat Banat Al Hasan area, west of Saab al bor, troopers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment discovered a large car bomb factory containing 2,000 lbs. of ammonium nitrate, 1,000 lbs. of nitric acid, 10 large shape charges and two trucks already rigged for detonation.
After cordoning off the area, the Soldiers destroyed the factory using artillery fire. There were no injuries in the destruction of the site. An investigation has been launched to determine who was using the facility.
Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces detain insurgent leader and two accessories
BAGHDAD – Members of the Iraqi Army, with U.S. Special Forces as advisors, detained three suspected insurgents linked to a rogue group of the Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) militia, during a series of operations July 15 in north Baghdad.
One team received small arms fire but safely detained the primary and secondary suspects at the location without injury. The third suspect was detained at a separate target location.
The primary suspect is believed to be a rogue JAM battalion commander and is suspected of organizing kidnappings and leading death squad killings of Sunni Muslim Iraqi citizens. Intelligence suggests he has been involved in more than half of the detonated improvised explosive devices in two of the northern districts of Baghdad.
The second suspect is an alleged rogue JAM cell commander in northern Baghdad under the primary suspect’s control. The second suspect’s cell is accused of conducting death squad killings of Iraqi civilians and using IED attacks against Coalition Forces.
The third suspect has also been implicated in death squad killings of Iraqi civilians as well as operations using IEDs under the leadership of the primary suspect.
A fourth additional suspect who was present during the operations was also detained.
Iraqi Army, Coalition Forces detain insurgent linked to Iranian IEDs
BAGHDAD – An Iraqi Army platoon with Coalition Forces as advisers detained a key suspected insurgent during an early morning raid, July 15 in Najaf.
Iraqi Soldiers detained their primary suspect without incident, while two other suspicious individuals present during the raid were also detained.
The primary suspect is believed to facilitate Iranian support for the rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi militia, a well-known insurgent group in Iraq. He allegedly provides rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi with improvised explosive devices and Iranian-made explosively-formed projectiles which have been used to attack Coalition Forces. Additionally, he is suspected of assisting rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi with cross-border training of their insurgent members and providing rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi with financial support, weapons, and equipment. The primary suspect is accused of exploiting charity organizations for insurgent recruiting purposes.
