Good News From The War On Terror 8/8
U.S. Special Forces, Iraqi SOF detain eight, kill one in air-strike
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, conducted an early morning intelligence driven raid detaining five alleged rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi insurgents in the Aamel area of Baghdad, Aug. 06.
Iraqi SOF detained their primary targets without incident, along with three other suspicious individuals who were present during the raid.
The primary individuals detained are alleged to be part of a Special Groups unit with the rogue JAM insurgents. They are believed to be responsible for conducting attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces as well as Iraqi citizens in the Aamel area of southwest Baghdad.
Upon leaving the objective, Iraqi and U.S. Forces received enemy-fire from insurgents. The insurgents fled the area after ineffective fire, while the Iraqi and U.S. Forces continued the mission.
A surveillance air-craft found one of the insurgents from the earlier attack and carried out a precise air-strike killing the individual.
Coalition Forces Kill 30 Special Groups Cell Terrorists, detain 12
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition Forces killed 30 Special Groups Cell terrorists and detained 12 suspected terrorists during operations Wednesday in Sadr City.
The individuals detained and the terrorists killed during the raid are believed to be members of a cell of a Special Groups terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq into Iran for terrorist training.
As Iraqi and Coalition Forces approached the objective location, they observed two armed men in tactical fighting positions assessed to be early warning operatives for the individual targeted in the operation. Responding appropriately to the immediate threat, ground forces engaged the two armed men, killing them. While in the objective area, ground forces raided a concentration of buildings and detained 12 suspected Special Groups Cell terrorists. Ground forces received sporadic small arms fire throughout the course of the operation.
During the course of the operation, the assault force and the overhead aerial support observed a vehicle and large group of armed men on foot attempting an assault on the ground forces. Responding appropriately to the threat of the organized terrorist force, close air support was called and engaged the terrorist vehicle and organized terrorist force, killing an estimated 30 terrorists.
Building upon a series of coordinated operations efforts that began with the raid in al Amarah in June, Coalition Forces continue to attack the supply chain of illicit materials being shipped from Iran. Intelligence reports indicate that the targeted individual in last night’s raid acts as a proxy between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force and the Iraqi EFP network. Reports also indicate that he assists with the facilitation of weapons and EFP shipments into Iraq as well as the transfer of militant extremists to Iran for training.
Six suspected terrorists detained, one terrorist killed in Coalition raids
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained six suspected terrorists and killed one terrorist during operations Tuesday and Wednesday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq and its associates in central Baghdad and Kirkuk.
Northeast of Samarra, Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists during a precision raid Tuesday. The targeted individual of the raid was the al-Qaeda in Iraq military emir of Samarra. The three individuals were detained for their association with the targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq emir.
During an early morning raid north of Tikrit Wednesday, Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists for their ties to an al-Qaeda in Iraq key leader. Intelligence reports indicate that the targeted individual of the Wednesday raid is a key al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in Bayji who oversees a cell of approximately 400 terrorists and is linked to numerous attacks on Coalition Forces.
Iraqi and Coalition Forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq Mosul-based emir who assists with terrorist operations in Kirkuk Wednesday morning. While Coalition Forces were on the targeted location two individuals were observed rapidly maneuvering towards the assault force providing perimeter security on the target. Responding appropriately to the immediate threat, Coalition Forces engaged the two men, wounding both. Both individuals were taken to a military medical facility for treatment where one later died. The terrorist who later died at the military medical facility was positively identified as the targeted individual.
Iraqi Scouts, U.S. Special Operations Forces detain suspected extortionist in Rawah
FALLUJAH –– Iraqi Army Scouts and U.S. Special Operations Forces conducted a series of targeted raids in Western Iraq Aug. 5, resulting in the detainment of an individual allegedly responsible for running an extortion network.
With U.S. Special Operation Forces present as advisers, Iraqi Soldiers raided a residence and office in the vicinity of Rawah and detained their primary suspect without incident. Several bags and boxes of paper documents, computer equipment and compact discs were also seized during the operation.
The detained individual was allegedly engaged in extorting money from local contractors and using those funds to finance al Qaeda in Iraq activities. He is also accused of paying insurgents significant sums of money from construction project contracts he has been awarded in the Rawah area.
Joint Iraqi Police, Army operation nets seven near Kirkuk
KIRKUK, Iraq – A joint cordon and search operation conducted by Iraq Police and Army units with Coalition advisers netted seven detainees wanted by Iraqi Security Forces and seized more than a dozen weapons northwest of the provincial capital, Aug. 7.
Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division combined with IPs, from the northern city of Dibbis, conducted the early morning mission into the town of Kif, a small village that sits between Kirkuk and Dibbis.
The IA battalion staff conducted planning based on information gathered from previous operations and brought in the local Iraqi police to assist with the mission.
“This is another notable example of the Iraqi Army performing the mission planning on their own,” said Capt. Ryan Nacin, fire support officer for the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Soldiers of the 2-35th Infantry Battalion served as Coalition advisers during the operation. “The Iraqi Army identified the additional man-power and resources provided by the police and invited them to conduct this operation with tangible results.”
All the men detained were wanted by ISF for suspected crimes or insurgent activity. The men were detained in different areas of the village. Weapons seized by the local security forces included 14 AK-47 machine guns, one pistol and one bolt action rifle. A four-door sedan was also impounded for improper vehicle registration.
The 2-35th Infantry Battalion is part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and has been serving in Iraq for nearly a year.
