Good News From The War On Terror 8/15
Coalition Forces kill 11 terrorists, detain four
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed 11 terrorists and detained four suspected terrorists during operations Wednesday targeting al-Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition Forces continued to attack Baghdad’s car bombing network, targeting an individual who has attempted to coordinate carjackings and use the vehicles and drivers as suicide car bombers. As the assault force approached the target building, four armed men maneuvered to a position on a nearby rooftop. Coalition Forces, responding to the organized hostile group, engaged the men, killing all four. Inside an associated building, ground forces found a cache of weapons and terrorist media. During the engagement, the roof of the targeted building caught fire. Coalition Forces called Iraqi emergency crews, who responded to the scene and contained the fire.
North of Muqdadiyah, Coalition Forces raided a suspected safe house complex while targeting a foreigner who provides weapons to al-Qaeda in Iraq. As ground forces approached the targeted buildings, three men scrambled for their weapons. Responding appropriately, Coalition Forces engaged the three armed men, killing them. When the ground forces called the remaining people out of the building, one man resisted and made threatening movements toward the assault force. Coalition Forces, perceiving a hostile threat from the man who was part of an armed group, engaged the man in self-defense and killed him.
Three more armed men ran into a building in a nearby palm grove. Coalition Forces called in close air support to engage the maneuvering terrorists, and surveillance teams confirm three terrorists were killed in the strike. The building where they hid was destroyed.
Two individuals on the scene were detained for their suspected involvement in facilitating the movement of weapons to al-Qaeda in Iraq for terrorist activities.
Coalition Forces also raided three buildings in Kirkuk while hunting an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader known for extortion, kidnapping, weapons trafficking and directing car bombings. Ground forces detained two suspected terrorists during the operation.
Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces detain Shi’a extremist leader
BAGHDAD – Soldiers from the 8th Iraqi Army, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, conducted a raid in eastern Najaf Aug. 14 and detained a former battalion commander of the rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi militia who is currently suspected of leading an independent Shi’a extremist group.
The former commander’s Jaysh al-Mahdi cell is suspected of conducting aggressive insurgent attacks using explosively formed penetrators throughout southern Iraq during late 2005 and early 2006. After leaving Jaysh al-Mahdi, he allegedly formed an independent cell of more than 150 Shi’a extremists that is believed to have conducted attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces. His cell is also believed to have taken part in the August 2006 battle in Diwaniyah, fighting against Coalition Forces.
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisors, detained four suspected members of the rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi militia, including a brigade commander, Aug. 14 in the Baghdad area.
The Shi’a extremist brigade commander directs more than 150 insurgents who conduct improvised explosive device and indirect fire attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces in the area. Reports indicate the brigade commander and his team buy and sell weapons in Sadr City and transport them to Al-Hurriya.
Additionally, the commander allegedly directs the extra-judicial killings of innocent civilians and government employees who oppose their criminal activities. Further intelligence shows the group also sets up illegal checkpoints to stop and hunt down Sunni citizens.
The commander’s rogue JAM cell developed an extensive and complex system to use cell phones and laptops to detonate IEDs in order to ambush and kill Coalition and Iraqi Forces and citizens.
On the way to detain the brigade commander, Iraqi and U.S. team members came under ineffective small arms fire. No U.S. or Iraqi members were harmed in the intelligence-driven operation.
The men are currently being detained for questioning about their alleged actions to attack and kill Iraqi and Coalition Forces, and other various illegal activities.
Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces detain 3 Al-Qaeda in Iraq high-level leaders
BAGHDAD – Soldiers from the 1/6th Iraqi Army Scouts, with U.S. Special Forces as advisors, detained three suspected key Al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders during an intelligence driven operation Aug. 14 in the Mansour area of Baghdad.
The forces detained an alleged group leader and both his cell leaders. Both cells traffic weapons into the Mansour area and conduct mortar and rocket attacks to harm Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
One cell leader is suspected of coordinating extra-judicial killings against innocent civilians and Iraqi government personnel. Intelligence reports indicates the other cell leader finances al-Qaeda with money supplied to him by foreign associations and has also orchestrated numerous vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi military and political figures.
The forces also seized weapons, ammunition, military uniforms, and computer equipment at the detainees’ locations.
