Good News From The War On Terror 7/4
Coalition Forces kill 10 terrorists, detain nine suspected terrorists
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained nine suspected terrorists and killed 10 terrorists Wednesday morning during operations in the Anbar province and in Mosul targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq terror cell leaders and their operatives.
In western Iraq, Coalition Forces raided a series of buildings in Anbar province looking for a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who is known to be responsible for the torture of Iraqis civilians who are viewed as supporting Coalition Force.
As ground forces approached the first targeted location they encountered three individuals. Two of the men were armed and the third attempted to draw his weapon on ground forces. Responding to the threat, ground forces engaged the three armed men, killing them. During this engagement three men from the targeted location across the street came outside of the building an began firing at Coalition Forces. Coalition Forces returned fire in self-defense, killing the three armed terrorists from the building across the street.
Immediately following engagement with the six armed terrorists, Coalition Forces began receiving heavy machine gun fire from a third targeted location down the road from three armed terrorists on the buildings rooftop, while a forth individual on the ground was maneuvering towards the ground force. Using appropriate escalation of force and responding to the threat, Coalition Forces called in close air support to suppress the enemy fire. During the strafing conducted by the close air support aircraft, the three terrorists on the rooftop and the one terrorist on the ground were killed.
During the same operation in Anbar province, six suspected terrorists were detained for their association with the suspected al-Qaeda leader known for torturing Iraqi citizens.
In Mosul, Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq terror cell financier and two other suspected terrorists during an early morning raid. Intelligence reports indicate that the alleged al-Qaeda cell financier was planning to have his terror cell attack the Mosul airfield.
Iraqi Security Forces Detain Insurgent Religious Leader in Mosul
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces detained an alleged insurgent religious leader in the Mosul area July 3. He is responsible for the planning of attacks in the Mosul area on Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
With coalition advisers present for support, Iraqi forces raided several residences in a Mosul neighborhood and captured their primary target without incident. Three other suspicious individuals present during the raid were also detained.
The primary target of this operation is alleged to be an insurgent religious leader in Mosul and plays a significant role in planning attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces. The insurgent group is alleged to have ties with extremist groups.
Coalition Forces kill 25, detain 5 and uncover caches in Diyala
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed 25 terrorists, detained five suspected terrorists and uncovered weapons caches during an operation northeast of Baqubah June 30 – July 2.
Coalition Forces conducted the three-day operation near the town of Mukhisa targeting al-Qaeda operatives in support of Operation Arrowhead Ripper.
During a patrol along the Diyala River near Baqubah, Coalition Forces were engaged by three men with rifles and military-style assault vests from across the river. Coalition Forces returned fire and the enemy fire subsided, but enemy reinforced its numbers and escalated to include rocket-propelled grenades.
Coalition Forces determined the enemy fire was coming from an organized terrorist force that had moved into a nearby palm grove. Coalition Forces fired and maneuvered on the enemy and called in close air support from a fixed-wing aircraft. During the engagement Coalition Forces killed an estimated 25 terrorists and the enemy fire stopped. The patrol also observed secondary explosions coming from within the palm grove.
Throughout the firefight, a nearby mosque was broadcasting chants for local residents to “rise up against” the Coalition Forces; the chants were later replaced by a voice that seemed to be giving orders.
Two suspected terrorists were injured in the engagement and were transported to a military medical facility for treatment.
Searches of the area during the operation uncovered weapons caches containing fire extinguishers rigged as improvised explosive devices, mortar rounds, RPG rounds and small arms. Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists for their alleged involvement with al-Qaeda in the area.
OP Geronimo Strike finds al Qaeda safe houses
KALSU, Iraq — Paratroopers discovered, then destroyed, three al Qaeda safe houses during an early-morning raid near Jurf As Sukhr July 3.
Operation Geronimo Strike, conducted to prevent anti-Iraqi operations and attacks, was an air assault raid on Kalsu’s Fish Farms area. Company B, 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division Paratroopers discovered several houses used by al Qaeda to meet, train and hide weapons.
While the Paratroopers were searching the area, they discovered two houses filled with weapons and explosives. A third house was booby trapped.
Because one of the houses was also booby trapped, the commander called in AH-64 Apache helicopters to destroy the three buildings. Paratroopers found two anti-aircraft rounds in a fourth house, which was not destroyed.
With the area searched and the safe houses destroyed, the Paratroopers returned to Forward Operating Base Kalsu.
Coalition Forces net 12 suspects in Adhamiyah
BAGHDAD — Three suspects with known terrorist connections and nine other associates were detained by Coalition Forces in the Adhamiyah District of the Iraqi capital July 2.
The suspects were seized without incident by Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, operating in eastern Baghdad under the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
The troops detained the suspects after receiving information on a meeting site of this alleged terrorist cell. The detention of the 12 suspects is part of the 2nd “Falcon” BCT’s ongoing efforts to secure the Adhamiyah neighborhood and rid it of terrorists and sectarian violence. Several of detained are suspected to have direct involvement in the deaths of five American Soldiers June 21.
IA, CF detain two, remove IED-making materials from Mosul neighborhood
MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi Army soldiers, supported by Coalition Forces, detained two suspected improvised explosive device manufacturers and seized materials during a series of raids in Mosul, July 1.
After coming under small arms fire, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, along with Coalition Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, detained two suspects and discovered over 30 cylindrical oxygen tanks, 10 55-gallon drums of ball bearings and 200 military entrenching tools in a vacant lot at the source of the attack.
One detainee possessed wires used for detonating a device, and the other tested positive for traces of explosives.
Both men were taken into custody and the seized items were disposed of by Iraqi Army explosive ordnance disposal specialists.
Iraqi Army Forces destroy IED factory near Karmah
FALLUJAH – Iraqi Army Forces discovered and destroyed an al Qaeda improvised explosive device factory during an early morning operation northeast of Fallujah July 2.
Iraqi Soldiers located the factory, which contained homemade explosives, nitric acid containers and numerous other hidden explosives, on a remote compound in the vicinity of Karmah. Ground forces destroyed the homemade explosives in place and, after clearing the area, utilized close air support to destroy the complex.
The destruction of the terrorist IED factory will greatly inhibit al Qaeda in Iraq attacks in the Fallujah and Karmah areas leading into Baghdad.
Operation “Iron Blitz” captures 25 insurgents in June
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Over the past 30 days, Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers captured 25 suspected insurgents during Operation “Iron Blitz” northwest of the Iraqi capital.
The suspects, many believed to be tied to insurgent cells responsible for the emplacement of improvised explosive devices, sectarian violence and indirect fire attacks, were captured by Soldiers of the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
The Ironhorse Brigade was able to target insurgents successfully in northwestern Baghdad neighborhoods thanks to an influx of support, in the form of tips, from the local community, Andrysiak said.
A grassroots effort by tribal leaders in Abu Ghraib, Taji, and Saab al Bor areas, to reject Al Qaeda and work to reconcile with the government of Iraq, Iraqi Security Forces and the Coalition, is aimed at putting an end to sectarian violence in those communities.
With 25 suspected insurgents captured in June, Andrysiak said communities in northwest Baghdad are headed in the right direction.
