Good News From The War On Terror 8/2
Two alleged Al-Qaeda emirs, 20 other suspects captured; four terrorists killed
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured two alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq emirs, killed four terrorists and detained 20 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq media cells and senior leaders Wednesday and Thursday.
Wednesday night, Coalition Forces captured the alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq sniper emir of Mosul. As the assault force entered the two targeted buildings, a man approached the perimeter security element. Even after the ground forces used appropriate escalation of force measures, the man continued to advance on the security element. Coalition Forces, responding appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged the man, killing him.
Inside the targeted buildings, Coalition Forces detained the alleged emir, who was believed to be involved in a plot against the mayor of Mosul on March 9 and has allegedly claimed responsibility for at least one Coalition Forces death in the last month. The suspected terrorist allegedly supervises 10-15 operatives and has conducted kidnapping operations to bring in money for his own use. Ground forces on the scene detained one additional suspect and discovered a small cache containing body armor, weapons, a rifle sight manual and extremist propaganda.
In western Baghdad Thursday morning, Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq media emir tied to propaganda cells throughout Baghdad. During the raid, the ground forces found a large amount of U.S. currency and improvised explosive device-making materials. Two more individuals were detained for their ties to the suspected emir.
Coalition Forces targeted a media cell and its leader, also suspected of facilitating the movement of foreign terrorists, in a raid near Samarra Thursday morning. As Coalition Forces approached the target building, surveillance showed a man come out of the building and move to a tactical fighting position against the assault force. Responding appropriately to the hostile threat, Coalition Forces called in close air support. The man was killed by aircraft strafing, and was determined to be a foreigner. The ground forces found weapons on site and detained seven suspected terrorists during the operation for their alleged ties to the foreign terrorist network and media cell.
North of Karmah Thursday, Coalition Forces continued to target senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in Anbar province. As the assault force approached the targeted buildings, two terrorists armed with AK-47s drew their weapons on the ground forces, using a woman as a human shield. Coalition Forces closed in on the armed men when one terrorist attempted to assault an element of the ground forces. Coalition Forces moved the woman out of the way and engaged the two armed men, killing them. Four suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.
A raid in Tarmiyah Thursday targeted a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist who has close ties to the al-Qaeda emir of Baghdad. The ground forces detained four suspected terrorists during the operation.
High Value Individual detained in Al Anbar Province
BALAD, Iraq – While executing a convoy security mission, Paratroopers from 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 2-504th Parachute Infantry Regiment were decisively involved in the detention of a High Value Individual in Al Anbar Province July 24.
The Paratroopers were informed to “be on the look out” for a specific vehicle. Upon positive identification of the vehicle, the men of Charlie Company quickly transitioned to isolate and secure the HVI.
Al-Qaeda emir of Mosul shot, killed by ISF
MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi Army soldiers from the 2nd Iraqi Army Division shot and killed three members of the Islamic State of Iraq terrorist organization, including its leader Safi, the touted al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of Mosul, after they were fired upon Aug. 1.
The incident took place during a series of combined operations involving the 2nd Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police throughout the city of Mosul. The 2nd Iraqi Army Division headquarters element, including Brig. Gen. Moutaa, commander of the 2IA, were conducting cordon and search operations in northeast Mosul when Safi and three of his bodyguards were spotted in a pickup truck.
The convoy gave chase and pulled the vehicle over. All four men exited the pickup and began firing at the IA soldiers. Moutaa and his security element returned fire, killing all three.
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain four rogue JAM suspects
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Special Forces detained four suspected Shi’a extremists who are believed to be linked to the rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi militia during an intelligence driven in Baghdad July 31.
The suspected Shi’a extremists are allegedly responsible for engaging in death squad killings of innocent civilians in the Baghdad area. The suspects are also allegedly connected to a terrorist network responsible for emplacing improvised explosive devices and participating in criminal activities aimed at undermining legitimate elected officials.
Tribal members assist in detention of three al-Qaida leaders
SHERWEEN, Iraq – After receiving information of known al-Qaida members in the Sherween area, a village near Muqdadiyah, Iraq, Iraqi citizens assisted Iraqi Police in the detention of three key al-Qaida leaders, July 29.
Suspecting an attack on a near-by village, Diyala tribal members informed the Dali Abbas Iraqi police, and together, set up a tactical checkpoint along the known route.
As suspected, the leaders were traveling toward Dali Abbas, and when searched, the IP discovered two AK-47s, a laptop computer and documents detailing past and future al-Qaida operations.
Following the detention of the al-Qaida leaders, the IP transferred the detainees to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division.
Despite threats by al-Qaida, the al-Qaida leaders were successfully detained and transported to an IA detention facility for further questioning, demonstrating the steadfastness of the Iraqi Police.
MND-B Soldiers find large weapons cache near Falahat
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers found a large weapons cache near Falahat, Iraq July 30.
While conducting a dismounted patrol in an area just outside of the village, Soldiers from Troop D, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, uncovered a cache consisting of 155 Russian-made 57mm mortar rounds.
Iraqi Security Forces are currently investigating to find those responsible for storing the mortar rounds.
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain five, disrupting VBIED cell in Kirkuk
TAJI – Iraqi Security Forces conducted an early morning raid Aug. 1 in Kirkuk that resulted in the capture of a suspected key leader of the terrorist criminal network of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
The targeted suspect is believed to be responsible for a vehicle born improvised explosive device attack in Kirkuk on July 16 that killed more than 85 civilians and injured more than 180. With U.S. Special Forces as advisors, the Iraqi Security Forces also detained four suspects in addition to the primary target.
Combined operation nets four suspects
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq — Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers and Iraqi Police officers captured four suspected insurgents and recovered materials for making improvised explosive devices during a security operation in the Al Amin section of eastern Baghdad Aug. 1.
The operation, dubbed Operation Winston Salem, was carried out by Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Iraqi Police. The operation was intended to clear the area of insurgents and confiscate weapons caches.
950 pounds of explosives found
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, along with their Iraqi Army counterparts, discovered two large homemade explosive caches during Operation Rogue Stomp from July 29-30 in the Baghdad neighborhood of Jamia.
Troops from 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 6th Iraqi Army Division and the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, made the discoveries during their two-day clearing operation.
The first cache, more than 400 lbs. of homemade explosives, was found on the evening of July 29. Military working dogs assisted in the find, and an explosive ordnance disposal team conducted a controlled burn of the substance. The explosives detonated, destroying the abandoned house where it was discovered.
The second cache netted 16 bags of homemade explosives, totaling 550 lbs., along with a rocket-propelled grenade and other IED-making materials. An explosive ordnance disposal unit performed a controlled detonation of the bomb-making materials.
Both caches were located close to the newly constructed Coalition Outpost Lion. That outpost serves as the Iraqi Army’s primary patrolling base for operations in and around the Jamia neighborhood.
More than 2,000 lbs. of homemade explosives have been confiscated in Jamia by Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces in July.
Iraqi provisional volunteers lead Soldiers to cache
BAGHDAD — Iraqi provisional volunteers found a weapons cache in Radwaniya, in the western portion of the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital and handed it over to Coalition Forces July 31.
Members of the group of volunteers found the munitions just after noon, and contacted troops of Company E, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment “Vanguards,” who took control of the site.
The volunteers are a group of local Sunni men who are assisting in the fight against Al Qaeda, alongside Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
At the site, the troops found 40 grenades, 40 60mm mortar rounds and 20 pounds of homemade explosives. There were enough mortar rounds to make six improvised explosive devices.
