Good News From The War On Terror 8/25
Iraqi, Polish Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain extremist cell leader in Diwaniyah
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army Scouts and Polish forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained two suspected extremist militant cell members in the town of Al Budayr Aug. 22.
The targeted terrorist, from the Al-Askari district of Diwaniyah, is allegedly responsible for producing explosively formed penetrators and executing improvised explosive devices attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces in the area.
Further intelligence indicated that in February 2007 he used a local high school as a screen to launch Katyusha rockets at a Coalition base and is connected to another criminal cell that attacks local citizens who oppose the Shi’a extremists’ illegal activities.
ISOF, U.S. Special Forces detain nine extremist militants in Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operation Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained nine suspected extremist militants in two early-morning raids in Baghdad Aug. 23.
In southern Baghdad, ISOF detained one targeted individual and three other suspected operatives. The targeted individual is a suspected militant company commander operating out of Hay al Aamel. He has allegedly conducted improvised explosive device attacks against Coalition and Iraqi forces. Intelligence reports that he has participated in the rape and murder of local nationals.
Meanwhile, in the vicinity of Shula, soldiers from the ISOF Brigade raided a suspected terrorist cell, detaining two targeted insurgents and three others. The targeted individuals are considered to be assassination cell leaders. Three AK-47 assault rifles with magazines, Iraqi dinar, a computer and various documents were seized during the operation.
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security and Iraqi Army Forces, with U.S. Special Forces acting as advisers, detained two key al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and seven other suspected terrorists in two separate operations Aug. 24 in Baghdad and in the Za’ab Triangle.
During an intelligence driven operation in Baghdad, Iraqi Security Forces detained an Amir and an intelligence officer of al Qaeda in Iraq from the Abu Gharaib area. The Amir leads cell members who launch attacks on Coalition and Iraqi Forces with improvised explosive devices.
Reports indicate the suspected intelligence officer collects names of Iraqi Security Forces personnel and targets them for assassination by other cell members. He also conducts surveillance of Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces in the area.
In the second operation, Iraqi Army Forces conducted a successful air assault raid and detained seven suspected members of an al Qaeda in Iraq cell operating in the village of Jarnaf Gharbi in northwest Iraq. These individuals are believed to be responsible for attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces along the Tigris River Valley and the Za’ab Triangle.
Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces detain rogue Jaysh al Mahdi leaders
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army Forces, with U.S. Special Forces acting as advisers, detained two leaders of rogue elements of the Jaysh al-Mahdi militia during two intelligence driven operations Aug. 24 in Baghdad and in Taji.
In the first operation, Iraqi Army Scouts detained a suspected Shi’a extremist responsible for directing a criminal network of individuals who routinely attack Iraqi and Coalition Forces with improvised explosive devices and explosively formed penetrators in the New Baghdad area.The leader is also linked to a Jaysh al-Mahdi cell responsible for extrajudicial killings of innocent Iraqis. The forces also detained a second suspicious individual during this raid.
In the second operation, members from the Iraqi Army 9th Division Reconnaissance team detained a Jaysh al-Mahdi company commander Aug. 24 in Taji.
Intelligence indicates that the suspected Shi’a extremist is responsible for emplacing explosively formed penetrators and improvised explosive devices to target Iraqi and U.S. Forces in the Taji area. The suspect is believed to be responsible for emplacing an EFP on July 26, 2007 that wounded 2 Coalition soldiers.
The suspect is currently being detained for questioning about additional attacks which resulted in the deaths of several Iraqi and Coalition soldiers.
Three terrorists killed, 17 suspects detained in Coalition raids
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained 17 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq activities in the Tigris River Valley
Coalition Forces raided several buildings north of Muqdadiyah seeking the area’s al-Qaeda in Iraq media emir. As the assault force moved to secure the five buildings, they encountered three armed men, each in a different room, who drew their weapons on the assault force. In each case, Coalition Forces defended against the hostile threat and engaged the armed men, killing them. The ground forces also discovered bomb-making materials, which an explosives team destroyed on site. One suspected terrorist was detained.
Coalition Forces used information from operations Jul. 14 and Aug. 2 to capture a suspected terrorist financier northeast of Samarra. The individual is believed to provide money for weapons and other support to foreign terrorists in the Tigris River Valley.
Coalition Forces also captured a suspected associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders in Salah ad Din province. Intelligence reports indicate the individual moved to Bayji to help al-Qaeda in Iraq set up operations there. Coalition Forces detained six more suspected terrorists during the raid.
Coalition Forces continued their assault against the bombing networks in Baghdad with two operations around the city. The ground forces captured an alleged terrorist cell leader in the Arab Jabour area, believed to oversee 20 explosives experts, and five of his suspected associates.
Based on information from operations on Aug. 15 and Aug. 24, Coalition Forces targeted a bomb maker during a pre-dawn operation in western Baghdad. When the ground forces requested for occupants to come out of the target building, two men exited and were taken into Coalition Forces custody. To secure the area, the ground forces entered the building, which was a Red Crescent facility. Inside, Coalition Forces took great care to protect the facility’s resources before determining the building was secure and leaving.
Execution site discovered, eight suspects detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces uncovered a terrorist execution site and a building suspected of being a car bomb factory during an operation Aug. 21-23 south of Baghdad.
As Coalition Forces entered the Arab Jabour area, they immediately received small arms fire. The assault force returned fire, killing one terrorist.
During the 24-hour operation, Coalition Forces discovered an area used by terrorists as an execution and dumping site. The ground forces found human skulls, decomposing bodies and bones wrapped in bloody clothes. Wild dogs were rampant around the area, which was characterized by a crater where most of the human remains were dumped. Inside a nearby building, the ground forces found blood spatter and other signs indicating executions had taken place there. In another building, Coalition Forces found several improvised explosive devices in the area and a weapons cache that included trigger wires.
Intelligence reports indicate that al-Qaeda in Iraq operates in the area, and weapons caches in the area contain materials used in the Baghdad car-bombing network. Local Iraqis helped Coalition Forces find a stash of homemade explosives and a building that was suspected of being a car bomb factory. Inside the compound, the ground forces found numerous items used to make and mix homemade explosives for use in car bombs. An air strike destroyed the explosives cache. Eight suspected terrorists were detained during the operation for their association with al-Qaeda in Iraq and conducting terrorist activities in the Arab Jabour region.
