Good News From The War On Terror 8/22
Coalition Forces strike al-Qaeda in Iraq; one terrorist killed, 24 suspects detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained 24 suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq Tuesday and Wednesday targeting senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq and their degrading network.
Coalition Forces conducted two precision raids east of Samarra Tuesday targeting a senior leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq and his associates. Five suspected terrorists were detained in the coordinated operations, one of whom is believed to be the terrorist leader’s close associate.
Wednesday, Coalition Forces continued targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq with two more operations in Salah ad Din province. In a raid south of Tikrit, ground forces captured an individual believed to use his position with Iraqi emergency response teams to assist al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists. When the assault force arrived at the target area, they observed several armed men moving into positions around them. Coalition Forces called in close air support to defend against the armed men, and machine gun fire from the aircraft killed one armed man. Another suspected terrorist was injured in the engagement. He received medical attention on site and was transported to a military medical facility for further treatment. Several other suspected terrorists surrendered as the ground forces advanced, and eight were detained in the operation.
In the other operation in Salah ad Din province, intelligence reports led Coalition Forces to Bayji, where an al-Qaeda in Iraq emir was allegedly seeking refuge because of pressure from Coalition operations. The ground forces detained four individuals for their suspected ties to the emir and other al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders.
During a raid in Baghdad Wednesday, Coalition Forces captured an individual believed to be a close associate and bodyguard of an al-Qaeda in Iraq emir. The suspected associate identified himself to Coalition Forces on the scene as the targeted individual, and four additional suspected terrorists were detained.
Coalition Forces conducted an operation in Anbar province Wednesday to further decimate the al-Qaeda in Iraq media network. During the operation, Coalition Forces captured the cell’s alleged leader and one other suspected terrorist.
Dragons find car bomb, three caches
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers found a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and three caches in southwestern Baghdad Aug. 20.
Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4th “Dragons” Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, responded to a tip and found a car bomb in the Doura area. While cordoning the off the area, the vehicle exploded. There were no casualties.
Earlier in the day, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment “Black Lions,” 4th IBCT, discovered a cache consisting of 94 mortar rounds of various sizes, two 107mm rockets, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, four Iranian-made RPGs, an SKS rifle, a Dragonov sniper rifle, four hand-held radios and chargers and an anti-aircraft sight. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to destroy the cache.
At another location, the Black Lions found several thousand rounds of 7.62mm linked ammunition inside of a car.
Later on in the morning, Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4IBCT, discovered an AK-47 with two 30 round magazines and one set of Russian-made body armor.
Tip leads to insurgent cache site
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers uncovered an improvised explosive device cache site in Khadra on the western outskirts of the Iraqi capital Aug. 19.
Acting on tips, members of 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, raided a home in the neighborhood with assistance from officers from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division.
The abandoned home contained seven artillery rounds, two mortar rounds, two recoilless rifles, two hand grenades and 15 pounds of homemade explosive material. Scorch marks within the building indicated that an insurgent cell used the site to produce homemade explosives and build improvised explosive devices.
An explosive ordnance disposal team detonated the cache at a separate location.
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces capture high-level terrorist in Mosul
TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained a high-level terrorist during an intelligence-driven operation in Mosul on Aug. 20.
Intelligence indicates the targeted individual is believed to be in charge of security for Mosul-based ISI, an organization established as a front for al-Qaeda in Iraq and uses kidnapping and executions to enforce his security actions. He also reportedly interrogates kidnapping victims for extortion, information collection and executes them.
One other suspicious individual was also detained during the operation. The forces also seized a variety of military equipment and documents at the targeted residence.
Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces raid nets suspected money laundering terrorist
BAGHDAD – Soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, conducted an intelligence driven raid, detaining one individual who is suspected of money laundering Aug. 20 in Bayji.
During the operation, Iraqi Army Scouts simultaneously raided multiple buildings, detaining their primary target. The suspected terrorist is believed to be responsible for smuggling money in exchange for weapons, explosives and men, which are then used by the al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist network for attacks against innocent civilians and Coalition Forces.
Ledgers, a large sum of Iraqi and U.S. money, money counting machines, a9mm pistol and various ammunition were confiscated for further analysis.
