Good News From The War On Terror 7/29
High-level al-Qaeda cell members detained near Taji
FALLUJAH – Iraqi Security Forces conducted a helicopter assault raid July 28 detaining two known al Qaeda in Iraq cell members suspected of numerous crimes including murdering and intimidating Iraqi citizens and improvised explosive device attacks against Coalition Forces.
With U.S. Special Operations Forces present as advisers, Iraqi police detained their primary suspects without incident in a remote area northwest of Taji.
The detained individuals are high-level members of an al Qaeda cell in the Qaryat al Majarrah region and directly linked to a cell leader who was also detained in the same area July 20. The first detainee is allegedly responsible for placing multiple IEDs and carrying out murder and intimidation campaigns against Iraqi citizens. The second detainee is purportedly an al Qaeda lieutenant who allegedly has ties to an IED cell in Ramadi. He has also claimed responsibility for murders in Qaryat al Majarrah and the al Tash region.
Troops capture three suspected insurgents in East Baghdad
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers captured three suspected insurgents in a combined operation with Iraqi Security Forces July 28 in eastern Baghdad.
Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, in a combined effort with members of the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, captured the three suspects during Operation Burkan IV in the Karada District.
The Soldiers with Battery B and C, 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, based out of Fort Carson, Colo., were conducting raids with the Iraqi Army targeting insurgents in the Narwhan neighborhood in hopes of shutting down and disrupting a cell believed responsible for training snipers and improvised explosive device attacks.
All three suspects are being held for further questioning.
U.S. Special Forces, Iraqi Army, Iraqi Security Forces detain four insurgents
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army and Iraqi Security Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained four suspected rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi insurgents during an intelligence-driven raid in Baghdad, July 27.
Iraqi forces and U.S. Special Forces detained their four primary targets in the neighborhood of Al Shulla in southern Baghdad without incident.
During the raid, Coalition Forces confiscated an identification card and other documents, which identified one of the men as a JAM battalion commander. A memorandum was also found that instructed JAM members when and where to meet for future JAM activities.
The alleged insurgents are responsible for emplacing explosively formed penetrators, more commonly called EFPs, around Baghdad. They are also believed responsible for attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
Insurgents detained near Habbaniyah
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army Forces conducted a series of raids July 27 detaining two suspected insurgents believed to be responsible of numerous attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi citizens.
With U.S. Special Operations Forces present as advisers, Iraqi soldiers detained their primary suspects without incident at their residences in the town of Husaybah, located northwest of Habbaniyah. Rifles, ammunition and false identification cards were also seized during the operation.
The first detained individual is allegedly responsible for the coordination and execution of multiple improvised explosive device, indirect fire, and small arms fire attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi citizens. He is also suspected of financing and providing intelligence support for insurgent activities. The second detained individual is also believed to be responsible for a series of IED attacks. He is also allegedly involved in the kidnapping of Iraqi citizens.
Coalition operations kill 8 terrorists, capture 22 suspects
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists and detained 22 suspected terrorists during operations Sunday targeting al-Qaeda members in central Iraq and the Tigris River valley.
Coalition Forces targeted a foreign terrorist facilitator and al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in the Yusifiyah area. As the assault force approached the location, a group of armed terrorists engaged them with small arms fire.
Coalition Forces, reacting appropriately to the hostile threat from an organized force, employed close air support. The air strike killed five terrorists, while several more moved to a nearby building. The assault force followed and entered the second building, where they detained seven armed individuals and uncovered fortified fighting positions and a large cache of weapons. One boy was injured during the operation. He was treated on site and accompanied by his father to a military medical facility.
South of Tarmiyah, Coalition Forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader and used aircraft to patrol the area. As the operation began, armed terrorists engaged the aircraft with small arms fire. The aircraft, returning fire in self-defense, engaged the terrorists on the ground, killing three and wounding one suspect. The assault force on the ground detained three additional suspected terrorists.
South of Baghdad, Coalition Forces used air assets to contain a suspected enemy force while targeting key players in the Baghdad vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network. As Coalition Forces raided the target building, several suspected terrorists attempted to evade the assault force. With the help of close air support, the ground force detained seven suspected terrorists.
Coalition Forces raided a building in Samarra looking for a suspected foreign terrorist facilitator and financier tied to an individual detained during an operation July 14. The ground forces detained two suspects on scene and discovered weapons and a mortar round in the building.
Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists during an operation south of Tikrit targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq military emir.
Caches found, insurgent detained during Marne Avalanche
KALSU, Iraq — Paratroopers from Strike Force Geronimo captured one insurgent from a cell responsible for attacks against citizens and security forces in North Babil during Operation Marne Avalanche July 26 northwest of Iskandariyah.
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 509th Airborne, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, conducted an early morning air assault and continued raids throughout the day in an al-Qaeda stronghold several kilometers northwest of the city.
After securing the safe house, the Paratroopers began pushing into the town, where their mission began in earnest.
In addition to capturing the insurgent, Paratroopers discovered three weapons caches during the operation. In the first cache, they found a DSKA .50 caliber heavy machine gun with 75 rounds, a rocket propelled grenade launcher with seven rounds and 100 RPK heavy machine gun rounds. In the second cache, more than 400 RPK rounds were uncovered. The third cache consisted of three AK-47 assault rifles, an RPK heavy machine gun, an ammunition vest and a can of 7.62mm ammunition.
The insurgent is being held for further questioning.
An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the weapons on site.
During 12 days of Operation Marne Avalanche, the Paratroopers of the 4th BCT (Abn.) have killed seven insurgents, conducted numerous precision raids, captured more than 60 insurgents including six cell leaders and other high value individuals.
Seven terrorists killed, one detained in Coalition operation
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed seven terrorists and detained one suspected terrorist during an operation near Muqudadiyah July 25-26.
As Coalition Forces approached the targeted area, which was a previously assaulted terrorist stronghold, the assault force and airborne assets observed several armed terrorists maneuvering through the village and occupying fighting positions. Coalition Forces responded appropriately to the imminent threat posed by the organized hostile force and engaged the terrorists with direct fire and close air support. Five terrorists were killed due to close air support strafing and two terrorists were killed by direct fire from ground forces.
Coalition Forces later discovered a woman who was injured by shrapnel from the air strike against the group of terrorists. A Coalition Forces medic attended to her until she was transported to a military medical facility for treatment.
Coalition Forces detained one man who was found with extremist training materials and fake identification.
