Good News From The War On Terror 8/12
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain 16 al-Qaeda in Iraq
TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, conducted multiple cordon and search operations detaining 16 suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq insurgents Aug. 11 in the village of Subayat Hamash, near Sinjar.
Four of the detainees are suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leaders wanted by the Iraqi Army for improvised explosive device and mortar attacks, facilitation of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist attacks against civilians, and hijacking food shipments. Their actions have resulted in the deaths of numerous innocent Iraqis in the Sinjar area.
Six vehicles, including four passenger cars, a pick-up truck and a dump truck, were seized during the operation.
This operation was conducted in order to provide security to the people of Subayat Hamash, while simultaneously limiting al-Qaeda in Iraq the ability to operate. The expanded purpose was the continued degradation of insurgency support activities in an effort to weaken threats against the Government of Iraq.
Attack helicopters engage and kill eight insurgents
TIKRIT, Iraq – The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade continued its lethal fight against insurgent forces when attack helicopters engaged and killed eight insurgents Aug. 9 in Salah ad Din province.
An attack helicopter received a “troops in contact” call from Coalition ground forces. The group of insurgents broke contact by the time the attack helicopters arrived to the location of the engagement. Moments later, the team observed 12 gunmen moving tactically near their attack position.
After confirming positive identification of the enemy with ground forces, the attack team fired on the gunmen, killing eight.
30 suspects detained in raids targeting al-Qaeda and bombing networks
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 30 suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq Sunday targeting bombing networks and senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Coalition Forces raided a series of buildings north of Karmah targeting terrorist operatives working for the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of the area. The emir’s network is responsible for car bombings, including attacks using chlorine. Ground forces detained 17 suspected terrorists for their alleged ties to the network.
During an operation south of Tarmiyah, Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists while targeting an explosives expert believed to be part of the Baghdad car bombing network. In a nearby operation, Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist involved in weapons trafficking for al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Coalition Forces targeted close associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s senior leaders during operations in western Baghdad and Mosul. The ground forces detained two suspected terrorists in the two raids.
Northeast of Samarra, ground forces raided several buildings associated with the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of Samarra. Two men were discovered outside the buildings and were detained. Coalition Forces targeted the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in Tikrit with an operation there that netted three suspected terrorists.
Iraqi, U.S. Special Forces detain two suspected terrorist cell leaders in Baghdad operations
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained two suspected terrorist leaders and three other suspected terrorists during early morning operations in Baghdad, Aug. 10.
During the first operation, joint forces conducted a systematic search of the three buildings in the town of
Yusufiyah and detained their primary target; a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq Amir.The suspected terrorist is believed to command a large cell involved in improvised explosive devices, mortar and small arms attacks. Two other suspected al Qaeda in Iraq cell members were also detained during the operation. A passport, a camera, a video cassette tape and various documents were seized.
In another operation, forces detained a suspected commander of Jaysh al-Mahdi, a Shi’a extremist group, Aug. 10 in western Baghdad.
The primary suspect allegedly commands a JAM cell whose members conduct extra-judicial killings of Iraqi civilians. His group is also believed to be responsible for attacks on an Iraqi National Guard checkpoint using mortars and small arms. In addition, one other suspicious individual was also detained.
Coalition Forces Kill An Estimated Three-to-Five Terrorists, Detain 13
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured 13 suspected terrorists with ties to extremist militia Special Groups in a pre-dawn raid Sunday in Sadr City.
Coalition Forces conducted the raid to capture or kill highly-sought weapons facilitators with connections to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps – Quds Force in Iran. Those detained are suspected of facilitating the transport of weapons and personnel from Iran into Iraq. They are also believed to have facilitated the transport of deadly Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs) from Iran into Iraq to be used against Coalition Forces.
As Coalition Forces were departing the area, they encountered and destroyed a light utility truck that posed a threat to the force. Coalition Forces attempted to signal the vehicle, however when the vehicle failed to respond, Coalition Forces fired on the vehicle with small arms fire.
During the raid, Coalition Forces confiscated a computer hard-drive, documents and photographs.
A Coalition air strike also engaged the same light utility truck, destroying the truck and killing an estimated three to five people in the truck believed to be terrorists.
