Good News From The War On Terror 7/30
Eight terrorists killed, 40 suspects detained in Coalition operations
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists and detained 40 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq in Salah ad Din and Anbar provinces Sunday and Monday.
A precision raid on Sunday targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq emir near Tarmiyah. After Coalition Forces blocked escape routes for three terrorists associated with the alleged leader, the armed men fired on the assault force. Coalition Forces called close air support in their defense, and the three armed terrorists were killed in the air strike.
Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists during the raid and destroyed a cache of weapons and ammunition inside the building.
A Monday raid targeted the same al-Qaeda in Iraq network. As Coalition Forces approached one of the targeted buildings, they received small arms fire from within. After ensuring that women and children near the scene were a safe distance from the building, Coalition Forces, reacting in self-defense, called in close air support. Ground forces assess five terrorists were killed in the air strike. The assault forces detained 10 suspected terrorists and destroyed the building.
Near Karmah, Coalition Forces raided four buildings Monday associated with a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq financier who works with senior al-Qaeda leaders in Anbar province. During the operation, the assault force discovered a cache of weapons containing machine guns, mortar rounds, improvised explosive device materials and military-style assault vests. A Coalition Forces air strike destroyed the cache and the ground forces detained 17 suspected terrorists on site.
South of Samarra, Coalition Forces detained eight suspected terrorists during a Monday raid targeting a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq operative tied to suicide bombers and foreign terrorists. The ground forces uncovered a cache of weapons that included rifles, grenades, mortars, military-style assault vests, body armor and materials to assist in anti-aircraft strikes. A trained explosives team destroyed the cache on-site.
Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists during a raid in Bayji Monday targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader there.
Task Force Hammerhead conducts 100th air assault mission
TIKRIT, Iraq – With more than 20,000 combat hours flown in support of Coalition ground forces in Iraq, the 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (Task Force Hammerhead), conducted their 100th air assault mission, July 22-23, in the vicinity of Taji, Iraq.
“Our general support aviation battalion has executed an enormous amount of combat air assaults since arriving in Iraq in August of 2006, rivaling other similar formations in the Army,” noted Lt. Col. Michael Fleetwood, commander, 3-25th Aviation and air mission commander for the July 22-23 operation.
The battalion consists of CH-47 Chinooks and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with some of the Blackhawks configured as MEDEVAC aircraft.
In an ongoing operation, TF Hammerhead rapidly inserted Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, into multiple landing zones to capture, kill and disrupt enemy capabilities marking the mission the 100th air assault mission by 3-25th Aviation.
During the operation, Co. B was air assaulted safely and was able to conduct actions in the area where there has been known insurgent activity.
“We are having a significant impact on disrupting (insurgent) activity in (Multinational Division-North) due to the pressure we are putting on previous (insurgent) sanctuaries,” Fleetwood said. “By rapidly air assaulting ground forces into objective areas, we are able to defeat the (insurgent) early warning networks and (focus) overwhelming combat power (to) surrounding the objective and preventing escape of
(insurgents).”In August 2006, TF Hammerhead officially began their mission supporting air operations in Iraq. Nearly 12 months later, they have flown a total of 5,118 missions, with 2,896 being MEDEVAC missions evacuating 7,471 patients. In addition, TF Hammerhead has flown 78,855 passengers and transported 4,127 tons of cargo. Soldiers from Co. B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, dismount during Operation Blowtorch, July 22-23, in the vicinity of Taji, Iraq. The operation was an air assault mission supported by 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment
(Taskforce Hammerhead), 25th Combat Aviation Brigade.
Iraqi Army Soldiers graduate first ever Iraqi Ground Force Command Combat Lifesaver Course
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Fifteen Iraqi Army Soldiers, ranging in rank from private first class to warrant officer, graduated from the first Iraqi Ground Forces Command Combat Lifesaver Course at Camp Victory, Iraq on July 29.
“The idea for this course is to train the trainer,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Corkrum, senior instructor, “The IA Soldiers did very well despite challenges of training through translators and we stayed on schedule.”
“Our goal is to open an Iraqi schoolhouse,” said Capt. Jorge Vargas, IGFC advisor with the Iraqi Assistance Group, “In about one-and-a-half months, they [IA Soldiers] will be able to apply this course solo and train their own troops.”
“It will be done in three steps,” said Vargas, “The first step is to bring in the CLS instructors and teach the course as they teach it; the second step is to teach the IA Soldiers advanced skills; and the third step is to have the CLS instructors act as observer/controllers to watch the IGFC CLS instructors teach the class to other Iraqi troops.”
“The CLS course is the same three-day course we teach to our Soldiers,” said Corkrum, “It covers tactical combat casualty care; how to evaluate a casualty; how to manage an airway; how to treat an open chest wound; decompress tension pneumothorax, initiation of an intravenous infusion; and evacuation of a casualty using a sked and other litters.”
“We didn’t cut them any slack,” said Sgt. Robert Cage, CLS instructor, “They tookwhat we showed them and they applied it directly with no hesitation.”
“The IGFC CLS graduates will be able to prepare for their class, execute a class, and conduct an after action review with their students after the class,” said Vargas.
“These Iraqis are learning to be instructors,” said Corkrum, “And to get familiar and proficient with their equipment ranging from aid bags to medical equipment to their own ambulances.”
CLS instructors who taught the IGFC Soldiers were Staff Sgt. Michael Corkrum, Sgt. Robert Cage, Sgt Peter Moore, and Sgt. Julian Alexander, of the 329th Ground Ambulance Company, which is part of Task Force 3rd Medical Command.
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain al Qaeda cell leader in Husaybuh
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces teams conducted a series of raids, July 29 detaining a suspected al Qaeda cell leader responsible for attacks and facilitating foreign fighters in the Al Qaim area.
With U.S. Special Forces present as advisers, Iraqi Police detained two primary suspects and three additional persons of interest in the vicinity of Husaybuh, located on the Euphrates River west of Al Qaim. Various documents, including multiple identification cards and passports, were also seized during the operation.
The cell leader, who allegedly runs al Qaeda in Iraq activities in Husaybuh, is purportedly involved in the planning of future large scale attacks against Coalition Forces in the western Euphrates River valley. The second primary suspect is a school teacher believed to be spreading propaganda and recruiting his students to kill members of the Iraqi Police and Army.
