Good News From The War On Terror 8/28
Cache uncovered thanks to tip from residents
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq — Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team recovered small caches in two separate operations Aug. 27 in eastern Baghdad, one based off a tip received at their joint security station.
Soldiers with Company D, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment discovered an explosively-formed penetrator while on a clearing mission in the Karadah District. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to stabilize the EFP.
Meanwhile, Soldiers with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Battalion uncovered a cache in the New Baghdad District, based off a tip from residents. The cache consisted of one 60mm mortar; one rocket-propelled grenade launcher; one explosively-formed penetrator; five RPG grenades; one hand grenade; 20 shotgun shells; one bayonet; and eight mines. The troops also recovered wire and identification cards.
The recovered caches come as U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces continue to drive into insurgent strongholds.
This has included setting up combat outposts and joint security stations as part of the Baghdad Security Plan to pacify the capital. The recovered weapons demonstrate to neighborhood residents that Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces are there to protect them.
8 terrorists killed, 11 suspects detained in Coalition operations
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists and detained 11 suspected terrorists during raids targeting leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq and their networks Tuesday in central and northern Iraq.
During operations southeast of Kirkuk, Coalition Forces targeted a regional emir of al-Qaeda in Iraq and one of his operatives, both of whom are believed to facilitate the movement of foreign terrorists in Iraq. As the assault force approached the target site, they observed two armed men in tactical fighting positions waiting for them. Responding to the hostile threat, Coalition Forces called for close air support, which engaged the two armed terrorists, killing them. Once the assault force was at the target location, four armed men attempted to maneuver around them into tactical positions, but Coalition Forces responded to the hostile threat and engaged them with fire from the supporting aircraft. Ground forces assessed four armed terrorists were killed. Once the location was secure, the ground forces surveyed the area and found weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, an RPG sight and a suicide vest. An explosives team safely destroyed the materials on site.
Two coordinated operations straddling the provincial borders of Salah ad Din and at Tamim northeast of Tikrit targeted a senior-level al-Qaeda in Iraq advisor operating primarily in the Kirkuk area. The targeted individual is believed to be tied to the international terrorist Khalid al-Turki, who was killed in an operation Jun. 23, and several other al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in the area.
As soon as Coalition Forces arrived at the first location, they received small arms fire from a nearby rooftop. Coalition Forces responded to the enemy fire by calling for close air support to engage two armed men identified on the roof. The two terrorists were killed. When Coalition Forces secured the building, they discovered two women and a boy who were injured in the engagement. The assault force treated the three civilians on site and transported them to a military medical facility for further treatment. Six suspected terrorists were detained during the operation. At the second location, Coalition Forces detained two suspects for their alleged ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq advisor.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders associated with the car-bombing network in southern Baghdad were the target of a Coalition Forces raid there. The ground forces captured three alleged members of the cell with ties to both its current leader and a suspected former leader detained in an operation May 5.
Iraqi Army Scouts, U.S. Special Forces detain suspected terrorist assassin
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army Scouts, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, conducted an operation Aug. 27 near Tikrit, detaining a suspected terrorist cell leader believed to be responsible for kidnappings, assassinations and brutal attacks in the area.
The alleged cell leader is suspected of advising senior terrorist leaders in the Heychel District. He is also believed to be responsible for the May 13, 2007 suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack on the Kurdish political Headquarters in Makmoor, the Feb. 13, 2005 attack that killed three Iraqi National Guard Soldiers, the June 16, 2004 assassination of a sheik in northern Heychel and the May 14, 2004 assassination of the Governor of Ninewa Province.
During the operation, in Mashat Village, Iraqi Army members identified enemy fire originating from the rooftops of nearby buildings. The forces engaged the enemy with well-aimed, proportionate fire, deterring the threat.
Wiring materials, electronic switches, CD’s and other electronic equipment were seized.
33 insurgents killed, Khalis waterway open
DIYALA, Iraq – 5th Iraqi Army Division partnered with Coalition Forces conducted an air assault into the town of Gobia to restore essential services to Khalis, Aug. 27.
The pre-dawn assault, involving several hundred Iraqi and Coalition Forces, defeated numerous small-arms attacks throughout the day resulting in a combined 13 insurgents killed.
CF attack helicopters and close air support supported the ground forces, killing 20 more.
The objective of the mission was to open the spillway, which regulates water flow to the town of Khalis, restoring the essential service of water.
The action by the IA and CF termed “Operation Church” also netted three caches containing 150 lbs of home-made explosives, two 130mm rounds, a ZU-23 with 2,000 rounds, a rocket-propelled grenade with eight rounds, a PKC, and seven AK-47s.
Three detainees were captured at one of the cache sites and water is currently flowing unimpeded to Khalis.
Iraqi and Coalition forces capture a suspected distributor of Iranian weapons
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition forces captured a highly-sought weapons facilitator before dawn Tuesday in Baghdad.
Iraqi and Coalition Forces conducted a raid to capture a suspected weapons distributor connected to the Special Groups network. The suspected senior weapons facilitator is responsible for distributing weapons and other forms of lethal aide smuggled from Iran into Iraq. The individual is also suspected of distributing explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs. The weapons distributor is also suspected of having direct ties to other senior commanders in militias operating in and around Baghdad.
Two others detained during the raid are also suspected of distributing weapons smuggled into Iraq from Iran. One of the buildings searched during the raid produced currency and identification documents confiscated for further analysis and evaluation.
Iraqi Army Soldiers kill, capture several attackers, eliminate VBIEDS
MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces repelled a series of attempted insurgent attacks, destroying vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, capturing small-arms and rocket-propelled grenades, and killing or capturing insurgent gunmen attempting to target ISF in Nineveh province, Aug. 26.
ISF stopped two separate VBIED attacks south of Mosul. Both drivers were taken into custody however, one of the truck bombs prematurely exploded, injuring three Iraqi soldiers.
At about the same time, an Iraqi Army patrol intercepted a motorcycle SVBIED in eastern Mosul. An IA soldier engaged the motorcycle, killing the bomber when the SVBIED prematurely detonated.
The IA patrol discovered unknown gunmen in the area attempting to set an ambush however, the IA forced the insurgents to flee the area. The patrol found two additional VBIEDS nearby, which were safely destroyed.
Another IA patrol on the west side of Mosul killed four unknown enemy gunmen in two vehicles, recovering assault rifles and RPG launchers with rockets from the vehicles.
