Good News From The War On Terror 7/28
16 suspected al-Qaeda terrorists captured
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 16 suspected terrorists during operations Saturday targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in north-central Iraq.
Two synchronized raids in Tarmiyah targeted senior terrorist leaders from the area. Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq Shari’a judge and his alleged advisor. Coalition Forces also detained three more suspected terrorists from the location.
In Samarra, Coalition Forces raided four buildings in search of an alleged key terrorist leader and close associate of the local al-Qaeda in Iraq emir. The ground forces captured the targeted individual, who is also an alleged bomb-maker and involved in kidnappings, assassinations and extortion operations. Four other suspected terrorists were detained with him.
Coalition Forces conducted two coordinated raids south of Tarmiyah targeting associates of high-level al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders. The ground forces detained six suspected terrorists for their ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq operations.
11 terrorists killed, 13 detained during Operation Woodshed
BALAD RUZ, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition Forces conducted a combined air assault into Samood Village, an area near Turki Village, Iraq, July 26, killing 11 terrorists and detaining 13 suspected terrorists in an effort to secure the Turki Village region and provide stability to the local population.
Operation Woodshed began early Thursday morning with soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, and paratroopers from Troop B, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, targeting known terrorist cells in the area.
Throughout the operation, the combined security forces, with assistance from attack helicopters, close-air support and field artillery assets, observed and killed several elements of anti-Iraqi forces attempting to maneuver on their elements.
While performing a thorough house-to-house search, Coalition Forces detained seven suspected terrorists, and the Iraqi Security Forces detained an additional six.
Operation Iron Blitz: Caches found, car bomb factory located, kidnapping victim freed
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers located multiple weapons and munitions caches, located a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device factory and rescued a kidnapping victim in northwest Baghdad July 26.
While conducting patrols in the area around Tall Yusuf village of Abu Ghraib, Soldiers form Company A, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment from the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division located five weapons and munitions caches. The caches consisted of mortars, anti-aircraft guns with ammunition, containers filled with high explosives, and other improvised explosive device-making material. The weapons, ammunition, and IED material were destroyed by an explosive ordnance disposal team.
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Battalion conducted an air assault to relieve Co. A, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment at the cache sites and continued to patrol the area. While conducting their patrol the Soldiers discovered a VBIED factory, which contained several vehicles in different stages of completion.
While searching the building, a kidnapping victim was discovered. The victim claimed he was kidnapped in the Abu Ghraib area after visiting his relatives there. He said the persons responsible were agents of Al Qaeda, and they had kidnapped him because they believed he was a spy for the “1920 Brigade.” The 1920 Brigade is a former Sunni group that had rejected the government of Iraqi, but has recently made overtures to reconcile with the government and the Coalition to defeat Al Qaeda in Iraq. The victim claims he had been kidnapped for almost four days, and that he had been tortured.
After the man had been rescued, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Battalion requested aviation assets destroy the vehicles and the building which was being used as a car bomb factory. Aviators from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cav. Div., destroyed the vehicles and a fixed-wing aircraft dropped a 500-pound bomb to destroy the building.
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Battalion evacuated the kidnapping victim by helicopter back to Camp Taji where his wounds were assessed by Coalition doctors. Noting that the victim had no serious injuries, Soldiers from the 115th Brigade Support Battalion, convoyed the victim to Camp Liberty. From there, Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavarly Regiment returned the man to Abu Ghraib to be reunited with his family.
The 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division is conducting Operation Iron Blitz, a series of missions in northwest Baghdad, to eliminate the ability of Al Qaeda and rogue Jaysh al Mahdi special groups to use the area as a staging ground for attacks into central Baghdad.
