Good News From The War On Terror 8/23
Operation Lightning Hammer disrupts al-Qaeda in Diyala
DIYALA, Iraq – Operation Lightning Hammer concluded Aug. 22 after a 12-day, large-scale operation to disrupt al-Qaeda and other terrorist elements in the Diyala River Valley, a complex area of villages and palm groves in Iraq’s Diyala province.
The operation, which involved approximately 16,000 Iraqi and Coalition Forces clearing approximately 50 villages, was a key element in Multinational Corps-Iraq’s overall operation, Phantom Strike; and resulted in 26 al-Qaeda members killed, 37 suspected terrorists detained and the discovery of 10 weapons caches.
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 Aug. 13, and conducted an additional three air-assaults during the course of the operation.
Residents of most villages welcomed the security forces, providing tips and intelligence about recent activities in their towns; and were interested in joining the Iraqi Security Forces. Following clearing operations, the Iraqi army provided medical assistance and humanitarian aid to the local citizens, many of whom said their villages were recently influenced by al-Qaeda.
More importantly, more than 80 tribal leaders and representatives, some of whom had not spoken in over a year, met Aug. 19 to discuss their grievances and swore on the Quran to unite in their fight against terrorists and become one tribe of Diyala.
Throughout the operation, the Task Force Lightning Soldiers also discovered 22 improvised explosive devices, 11 of which were discovered based on tips from a police chief in the river valley; and reduced three house-borne IEDs and six vehicle-borne IEDs, all of which could have been used to harm a large portion of the population or security forces.
Additionally, an al-Qaeda command post was discovered in the village of Shadia, and an al-Qaeda medical clinic was located in Qaryat Sunayjiyah.
The command post, which was surrounded by fighting positions, contained bed space for 20 individuals, supply requests, records of munitions, a list of families supporting the element, a list of al-Qaeda members detained by Coalition Forces and other terrorist propaganda.
The results of Lightning Hammer cleared the Diyala River Valley of al-Qaeda and allowed Iraqi and Coalition Forces to maintain a permanent presence in Mukeisha, a village in the heart of the river valley area.
One terrorist killed, 10 suspects detained in Coalition operations
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained 10 suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq Thursday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq weapons and leadership networks.
During an operation north of Baqubah, Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader and two other suspected terrorists. Intelligence reports indicate the cell leader was a terrorist weapons facilitator and has been watching a Coalition Forces base, possibly to plan an attack. During the operation, the ground forces observed a man maneuvering around them and passing information about the assault force to additional enemy elements. Coalition Forces, responding to the threat against the force, engaged the man, killing him.
Coalition Forces captured two targeted individuals and detained two other suspected terrorists during coordinated raids in Bayji. One of the suspects is an alleged safe house operator and meeting coordinator for senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Another suspect is believed to be second-in-command to the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of Bayji, who is linked to several attacks against Coalition Forces.
In Mosul, Coalition Forces conducted a precision raid looking for an al-Qaeda in Iraq improvised explosive device facilitator, who is believed to receive, store and assemble IEDs at his home. The ground forces detained one suspected terrorist. Coalition Forces also detained one suspected terrorist during a raid on a farm complex north of Muqdadiyah targeting members of an al-Qaeda in Iraq anti-aircraft cell.
MND-B Apache crews destroy rocket tubes
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division-Baghdad attack helicopter crews destroyed several possible rocket tubes oriented toward a forward operating base north of Baghdad Aug. 21.
While conducting reconnaissance, UH-60 Black Hawk crews from 2nd “Lobo” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, alerted Apache crews from 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, that they had spotted more than a dozen enemy rocket tubes.
When the Apache crews arrived at the site of the rocket tubes at about 4 p.m., they saw that about 10 to 15 tubes oriented toward a Coalition Forces forward operating base. They sought clearance from the ground unit, from 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, to engage the weapons systems and were cleared to fire. The aircrews destroyed more than half of the launchers before expending their ammunition and leaving the area to rearm.
Apache crews from 4th “Guns” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st ACB, and a team of U.S. Air Force A-10s arrived on station.
The Apache crews from 4-227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion fired on the rocket tubes destroying them.
11 detained in Rashid, including 9 Iraqi Policemen
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers detained nine Iraqi Policemen Aug. 21 as clearing operations in the Rashid District continued,
Troops from Company C, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, detained the policemen, suspected to be involved in an improvised explosive device attack near their checkpoint.
The detainees are being held for further questioning.
Earlier that day, numerous sworn statements led Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4IBCT, to apprehend two men suspected of involvement in anti-Iraqi activities. The two men allegedly financed Al Qaeda actions in the area and trained youths in creating and placing IEDs.
The two alleged terrorists are being held for questioning.
