Good News From The War On Terror 7/3
3 terrorists killed, 29 suspects detained in Coalition operations
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists, detained 29 suspected terrorists and destroyed a cache of bomb-making materials during operations in western and central Iraq Tuesday.
Coalition Forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq military emir during a raid west of Tarmiyah. As the ground forces approached the target location, one suspect exited the building and maneuvered into a canal, taking up a fighting position against the ground forces. After repeated attempts to call out to the suspect, Coalition Forces reacted to the perceived hostile threat and engaged the man, killing him. Coalition Forces later identified him as the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader targeted in the raid.
While the ground forces were clearing buildings at the location, they saw a man with weapons and a military-style vest of ammunition crouching in a fighting position. Coalition Forces, reacting to the perceived hostile threat, engaged the man, killing him.
The ground forces detained seven suspected terrorists from the objective for their alleged involvement in the al-Qaeda in Iraq network and association with the senior leader killed on site.
In western Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq operative who is believed to be responsible for conducting illegal checkpoints and numerous killings in the area. En route to the target location, Coalition Forces encountered three armed men hidden in a patch of reeds. The ground force called out to the men to surrender, but one man drew his weapon. Coalition Forces, acting in self-defense, engaged the armed man, killing him. The other two armed men were taken into custody. Coalition Forces detained a total of five suspected terrorists during the operation, including the alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq operative.
Near Al Asad, Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq operative allegedly tied to foreign terrorists and active in the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network. He is also suspected of involvement in a chlorine suicide bomb attack in Fallujah in March. During the raid, Coalition Forces also detained three more suspected terrorists.
In Baghdad, Coalition Forces continued to conduct operations targeting leaders and operatives in the city’s VBIED network. During a series of raids, the ground forces detained eight individuals allegedly tied to the network and destroyed three vehicles known to transport weapons and personnel for the terrorist organization.
Coalition Forces conducted a raid in Taji targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq operative allegedly involved in the local IED network, procuring weapons for the group. The raid netted five suspected terrorists allegedly linked to the cell, and Coalition Forces found a cache of chemicals and bomb-making materials on site. An explosives team safely destroyed the cache.
Iraqi Police Forces capture rogue extremist leader in Babil Province
BABIL – Iraqi Police Forces detained the alleged brigade commander of a rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) militia in Mahawil, a town about 50 miles south of Baghdad during an intelligence driven operation July 1. He is directly responsible for directing attacks using explosively-formed projectiles and improvised explosive devices on the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi Army, and Coalition Forces. One such EFP attack is directly responsible for the deaths of five U.S. soldiers.
He is also reportedly the JAM Special Groups Leader in Mahawil and Al Imam. During the operation, Iraqi Police detained their primary suspect without incident. Iraqi Police also detained three other individuals found on the targeted residence and confiscated cell phones, passports, computer hard drives, and other miscellaneous documents and booklets.
Helicopters conduct precision air strike
ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq — Coalition aircraft conducted a precision air strike against anti-aircraft weapons near Iskandariyah, July 1.
While conducting an aerial reconnaissance mission, Multi – National Division – Center helicopters spotted a ZPU-1 anti-aircraft gun and a 120mm mortar system approximately 10 kilometers west of the city.
The helicopter fired two missiles and destroyed the weapon systems.
Coalition Forces combat extremist fighters
RAMADI, Iraq – At least 23 insurgents were killed in fighting 4 kilometers south of Ramadi on Jazzera al Humar (Donkey Island) along the Nassar Canal June 30 and July 1.
Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces received reports that a significant number of anti-Iraqi forces had gathered on the outskirts of Ramadi to stage a series of large scale attacks. The group, affiliated with al Qaeda in Iraq, intended to regain a base of operations in Al Anbar with suicide car and vest bomb attacks.
The battle began at approximately 9:20 p.m. Saturday when Coalition Forces were attacked with small arms fire from two trucks near their position. U.S. Soldiers returned fire and pursued the fleeing attackers with the help of Army AH-64A Apache helicopter gun ships, Marine F-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier fighter jets. Helicopters killed at least one insurgent and wounded another, and destroyed the two trucks, later determined to be loaded with weapons, ammunition and explosives.
A detailed search of the area at 5 a.m. Sunday discovered 22 dead insurgents, including seven who were wearing suicide vests, as well as 24 homemade grenades, 20 pressure plate improvised explosive devices, assault rifles and machine guns, military uniforms, suicide vests and backpacks with first aid kits. Most of the enemy were dressed in similar white dishdashas and white running shoes, an outfit often associated with extremist fighters prepared to kill themselves.
Coalition Forces continued their search for any remaining enemy or weapons caches in the area. Around 2 p.m., extremist forces again attacked with machine gun fire, grenades and a suicide vest. Coalition Forces responded with small arms fire and grenades, killing at least one insurgent. Helicopter gun ships and fighter jets provided aerial surveillance and engaged multiple enemy positions, including the destruction of an enemy bunker complex with precision guided munitions.
Coalition Forces detained two enemy fighters and transported them to a military detention facility for questioning.
CF destroy homemade explosives factory
TIKRIT, Iraq – Coalition Forces destroyed a homemade explosives factory in the Diyala River Valley, July 1st.
The factory, which was located in a single story unfinished brick structure outside the village of Mikbisa, northeast of Baqouba, was discovered on Sunday night by CF who were conducting routine patrols and noticed the suspicious looking structure.
Upon entering the building, CF discovered large amounts of fertilizer, ammonium nitrate and nitric acid, all key ingredients used in making explosives. The house also contained a drying room in which the entire floor was covered with over 500 lbs of recently manufactured HME. Additionally, a number of chemical suits and other clothing items used to work with chemicals, to include boots, goggles, vapor masks and a large number of chemical gloves were found inside the house.
When they had finished searching the building, CF destroyed the house and all of its contents.
Operation Eagle Venture IV detains nine terror suspects
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — Coalition Forces detained nine suspected insurgents while constructing a battle position between Mahmudiyah and Yusifiyah, Iraq, June 29-30.
Soldiers of the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, in conjunction with troops of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., air assaulted into an area along a highway known as Route Sioux during the night. The Soldiers’ mission was to set up security for the construction of a new battle position to prevent movement of anti-Iraqi forces into Baghdad.
The battle position, strategically placed in the area which has long been a central terrorist haven, will provide a center for operations in the area, said Maj. Matt Zimmerman, operations officer for the 2-15th FA and a native of Willington, Conn.
Ground troops from Battery A, 2-15th FA discovered a small cache of anti-coalition propaganda compact disks, and Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd BCT, found an improvised explosive device consisting of six 60mm mortar rounds while traveling to the new battle position.
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team conducted a controlled detonation of the IED.
Six Iraqi citizens were detained at checkpoints leading to the site. One of the detainees was on a U.S. persons-of-interest list, three others were on the Iraqi army’s persons-of-interest list, and two carried false identification papers.
During construction efforts for the new position, 2-15 Soldiers came under small-arms fire; attack aviation was called in and the small arms fire was brought to a halt.
Battery A Soldiers provided security as construction personnel built the battle position and reed-clearance teams cleared vegetation for better observation.
The six detainees were taken to a detention facility for questioning.
