Good News From The War On Terror 8/14
MND-B Apache crews destroy homemade explosives cache
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division-Baghdad Apache helicopter crews located and destroyed a cache of homemade explosive materials at approximately 11:30 p.m., Aug. 12 north of Baghdad.
The Apache crews from the 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, reported finding a suspicious stockpile of drums and other materials. The area had recently been identified as a location used by insurgents for producing homemade explosives.
Ground forces from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div., cleared the Apache crews to engage the cache. The crews fired on the drums, destroying them. A follow-up reconnaissance the next day revealed that insurgents had gone to the location and removed the remnants of the explosive materials.
IA, CF rescue six hostages from AQI hold in Mosul
TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi army and Coalition Forces, working with tips from local citizens, rescued six people while detaining five terrorists in the al-Intisar neighborhood of Mosul, in Nineveh province, the morning of Aug. 13.
While searching for caches, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, and Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, discovered the suspected al-Qaida in Iraq prison. They freed the six hostages, made up of Kurdish and Christian men, and detained a guard. The hostages, bound and blindfolded for over two weeks, were being held for ransom of $100,000 each.
The rescue also yielded a cache containing weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and money.
While continuing to search the area, CF stopped a suspicious vehicle containing four males that had been circling the area. The men tested positive for signs of handling explosives and were promptly detained. $4,500 in U.S. currency and identification cards were taken.
Volunteers reveal multiple weapons caches north of Baghdad
BAGHDAD — Volunteers fed tips to Soldiers from the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division which led to the finding of four weapons caches and the detaining of two suspects in multiple operations north of Baghdad Aug. 8-9.
Troops from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, attached to the 1st BCT, acting on a tip from a neighborhood watch volunteer, uncovered an IED cache near the town of Sab Al Bor Aug. 8.
The cache included five complete IEDs and 12 incomplete IEDs. The cache also included 20 munitions of varying sizes, 100 pounds of homemade explosive, one can of nitric acid, some command wire as well as the tools necessary to manufacture IEDs.
The same day acting on a tip from a volunteer, Soldiers of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, also of 1st BCT, found a 100 millimeter projectile, ten 80 mm mortars, six IED timers, two rocket-propelled grenades and an accompanying booster.
In two separate incidents also involving information garnered from volunteer sources, Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment working with their Iraqi counterparts from the 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) unearthed two caches and detained two suspects.
In the first, while draining a canal, engineers from 2-8 Cav’s Sapper company found three 60 millimeter mortar rounds, two 82 millimeter mortar rounds, one 120 millimeter mortar round and one 122 millimeter projectile Aug. 9 near Kem, Iraq.
In the second find, during a cordon and search, 2-8 Cav. troops and Iraqi troops found 1 sniper rifle with two scopes, one AK-47 assault rifle with five magazines, a 9 millimeter Glock pistol, a hand grenade and detained two suspects in connection with the cache near Al Dhabtiya also on Aug. 9.
All of the finds were further evidence of Ironhorse Soldiers’ success in working with Iraqi communities and volunteers to root out insurgents and extremists alike, said Lt. Col. Peter Andrysiak, 1st BCT’s deputy commanding officer.
Local Iraqis have grown tired of the Al Qaeda stranglehold and they are taking back their communities and their lives, according to Andrysiak.
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment working with their Iraqi Army counterparts in the 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) uncovered two weapons caches and detained two suspects near the villages of Kem and Al Dhabtiya, Iraq Aug. 9. Pictured above are several of the weapons found by the battalion’s troopers. The weapons were found thanks to information provided by local volunteers.
Coalition Forces Kill Four Terrorists, Detain Eight in Search for Militant Extremist Leader
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed four terrorists and detained eight during a raid in Sadr City early Tuesday morning. The rogue Jaysh-al-Mahdi (JAM) leader and his operatives are suspected of coordinating and conducting attacks against Coalition Forces and moderate Iraqis within the Baghdad area.
The purpose of the raid was to capture or kill an extremist militant and his operatives. These militants have split with JAM and threaten the stability and security of areas within Baghdad. These militants are also known to have ties to illicit materials smuggled from Iran that have been used in extra-judicial killings.
Coalition Forces searched three buildings during the operation. Ground troops confiscated miscellaneous documents, photographs and identification cards. As Coalition Forces armored vehicles were departing the area, they were attacked by two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and small arms fire from multiple locations. Coalition Forces called for rotary-wing aircraft to fire warning shots in order to allow the ground forces to break away from the firing extremists. Coalition ground forces also returned fire, killing four armed gunmen. There were no Coalition Forces casualties during the operation.
16 suspects detained from foreign terrorist and bombing networks
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 16 suspected terrorists during operations Tuesday targeting foreign terrorists and bombing networks in the Tigris River Valley.
Coalition Forces captured a suspected terrorist when he identified himself as the targeted individual to ground forces during a raid west of Baqubah. The man allegedly specializes in weapons facilitation for terrorists in Diyala province.
North of Taji, Coalition Forces conducted two operations targeting associates of an al-Qaeda emir whose network is responsible for most of the bombings in the northern belts around Baghdad. Ground forces detained six suspected terrorists associated with the network’s military leader, and five suspected terrorists associated with an individual believed to conduct beheadings for the network.
Coalition Forces also conducted operations against the car-bombing network in western Baghdad targeting a direct associate of a media and car bombing cell leader with contacts in several foreign countries. Ground forces detained two suspected terrorists who were assessed to be foreigners.
Northwest of Balad, Coalition Forces detained two individuals believed to be part of the network facilitating the movement of foreign terrorists in Iraq. The two are allegedly associated with suspects detained in Coalition operations on Apr. 28 and Aug. 8. An Iraqi citizen provided important information to the ground forces on the scene.
Iraqi Special Operations Forces, U.S. Special Forces capture key leadership of rogue JAM element
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisors, conducted synchronized intelligence driven operations that detained 12 rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi insurgents Aug. 13 in Baghdad. The detainees include eight high-level leaders linked to JAM Special Groups that carry out attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
The suspects include a brigade commander, battalion commander, two company commanders and one leader of an extra-judicial killing cell. In addition, the forces captured several JAM cell members suspected of carrying out EJK and improvised explosive device attacks.
The brigade commander is responsible for five groups under his control. Reports indicate that he transports IEDs from Iran into Iraq and recently ordered an IED attack that caused the death of two U.S. Soldiers. The suspect also reportedly ordered his JAM members to set up illegal checkpoints to hunt down and assassinate Sunni citizens.
One alleged EJK cell leader is accused of emplacing an IED which detonated inside the Mareiam market on June 10 killing two Coalition soldiers.
The alleged insurgents are suspected of a long list of criminal activities, including the kidnapping and torture of Sunni citizens, and the assassinations of local government officials.
Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces detain high-value rogue JAM Special Groups leader
BAGHDAD – Soldiers from the 8th Iraqi Army and U.S. Special Forces detained a high-value rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi special groups facilitator during an early morning operation Aug. 12 in An Najaf, Iraq.
The Shi’a extremist operates the Amin Allah Cultural and Humanitarian Establishment in An Najaf and allegedly funnels humanitarian funds through the establishment in order to coordinate rogue JAM activities. The suspect is believed to use the smuggled funds for recruiting foreign fighters, training rogue JAM operatives in lethal attack tactics and trafficking illegal weapons from Iran.
The suspect is also believed to have played a prominent role in the murder of a Chief of Police in Kufa in 2004, and has allegedly facilitated improvised explosive device attacks, which resulted in several coalition deaths.
The suspect is believed to have assembled more than 200 rogue JAM members and ordered them to conduct assassinations on local citizens and government officials who oppose the group’s illegal activities.
Desert Rogues uncover two cache sites
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers uncovered two weapon caches in the western Baghdad neighborhoods of Adl and Khadra Aug. 10.
Acting on tips, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment “Desert Rogues,” attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, raided a home in the Adl neighborhood and discovered the first of two cache sites. The abandoned home contained 51 artillery rounds and 30 pounds of homemade
explosive material.The second cache site, located in Khadra, consisted of 27 pounds of homemade explosive material and a pre-fabricated improvised explosive device. An assortment of other bomb-making materials was also found at the second abandoned home.
An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the caches with controlled detonations.
Fifty-one artillery rounds are lined up for inventory and destruction in a controlled detonation by an explosive ordnance disposal team Aug. 10. The artillery rounds were found in an abandoned house in the western Baghdad Adl neighborhood following a targeted raid by Coalition troops. This munitions cache discovery was the first of two caches uncovered by the “Desert Rogues” from the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment.
Rashid residents provide tip, three suspects detained
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops detained three suspected insurgents during raids in the Rashid District Aug. 12.
In the early morning hours, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, Task Force 1-18, attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, detained a suspected insurgent based on tips from concerned Iraqis. Two residents signed sworn statements regarding the suspect’s activities.
Later in the day, “Tomahawks” of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, detained two individuals suspected of ties to the emplacement of improvised explosive devices.
Operation Lightning Hammer pursues al-Qaeda
TIKRIT, Iraq – Operation Lightning Hammer, involving approximately 16,000 Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces, began Aug. 13 with a large-scale offensive to defeat al-Qaeda and other terrorist cells seeking safe haven throughout the Diyala River Valley. This operation is a key part of Multinational Corps-Iraq’s overall operation, Phantom Strike.
Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, partnered with members of the 5th Iraqi Army Division, initiated the operation with a late-night air assault into targeted locations to capture or kill al-Qaeda responsible for the violence against Iraqi civilians.
Taking advantage of concentrated forces in Diyala province, Lightning Hammer’s goal is to target al-Qaeda elements that fled from Baqouba into the outlying regions north of Diyala’s capital city.
In addition to the thousands of Soldiers and their ISF counterparts participating in Lightning Hammer, attack helicopters, close-air support, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and tanks compliment the combined effort.
In addition to 3-1 Cavalry Division, elements of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division; 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division; 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division; 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and 25th Combat Aviation Brigade are also conducting operations in support of Lightning Hammer.
Elements of the 4th and 5th Iraqi Army Divisions, along with Iraqi Police units from Diyala province are teamed with Coalition Forces in a majority of Lightning Hammer operations.
Troops uncover cache, capture two suspects
FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYA, Iraq — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers uncovered a weapons cache and captured two suspected insurgents during raids in eastern Baghdad Aug. 14.
Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, based out of Fort Riley, Kan., and part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, detained two suspects and recovered two large civilian trucks, six rifles, one homemade silencer, .308 sniper rounds, two bolts and one bandoleer of ammunition in an operation in the New Baghdad District of the Iraqi capital.
The two suspects are being held for further questioning.
The captures and cache discovery came as a result from a tip received from a resident of the area.
Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces continue to reach out to Baghdad residents, encouraging them to turn in insurgents. These tips, together with other intelligence-driven efforts, have led to a steady increase in captures.
Operation ‘Lightning Hammer’ pounds al-Qaida in Diyala
BAQOUBA, Iraq – Operation Lightning Hammer kicked off with a powerful barrage of artillery fires and air strikes on carefully selected targets in Diyala province, Iraq, Tuesday, sending al-Qaeda in Iraq a strong message that they have no safe haven there.
More than 300 artillery munitions, rockets and bombs were dropped throughout the night and into morning, blocking al-Qaeda movements and suppressing suspected al-Qaeda targets. This barrage set the stage for subsequent nighttime helo-borne and ground assaults into the Diyala River Valley by 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, and 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, respectively.
These forces combined with other units already conducting operation Lightning Hammer elsewhere in Diyala and Salah ad Din provinces, totaling approximately 10,000 Coalition Forces and 6,000 Iraqi Security Forces.
The 5-73 Soldiers defeated several ineffective small arms attacks, killing three al-Qaeda gunmen, detaining eight, and uncovering a weapons cache, numerous IEDs and a booby-trapped house.
In a supporting offensive north of Baqouba, the 5th Iraqi Army Division and 5-20th Infantry Regiment discovered an AQI hideout, complete with bedrolls, believed to house 25 fighters, along with a substantial weapons cache of IED making material, mortars and rocket propelled grenades. The cache was destroyed in place.
