Good News From The War On Terror 9/13
Five terrorists killed, 11 suspects detained in Coalition operations
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 11 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and their operatives in central and northern parts of the country.
Using intelligence gained from an operation Aug. 30, Coalition forces targeted a senior leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq in Baqubah. Two armed men attempted to maneuver against the assault force and, in response, the assault force engaged the men in self-defense, killing them. As they called for the target building’s occupants to come out, the assault force saw a woman attempt to draw a pistol from a weapons belt she was wearing. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces engaged the armed woman, killing her. Another woman approaching the assault force dropped a grenade from under her clothes. When she attempted to retrieve and activate the grenade, Coalition forces responded to the hostile threat, killing the woman. The assault force detained five suspected terrorists during the operation, including another woman who was armed with a pistol.
Coalition forces targeted a senior leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s Baghdad network involved in planning and executing car-bombing attacks against Iraqis and the security forces that protect them. When an armed man emerged from the target building and maneuvered against the ground forces, Coalition forces engaged and killed him. Two suspected terrorists were detained in the operation.
In Mosul, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to conduct assassinations for al-Qaeda in Iraq. The ground forces detained three additional suspected terrorists in the raid.
Taji terrorist safe house destroyed, 12 suspected insurgents detained
FALLUJAH – Iraqi Army Scouts, with U.S. Special Operations Forces as advisers, conducted an intelligence driven helicopter assault raid Sept. 12 resulting in the detention of 12 suspected insurgents and the destruction of an explosively-rigged structure.
Assault forces conducted a series of raids in the vicinity of Taji and detained ten targeted individuals and two additional persons of interest. While securing one of the objectives, an assault team discovered a command detonation wire leading from an abandoned structure and the area was immediately evacuated.After ensuring full accountability of all forces and ensuring no civilians were located within the vicinity of the structure, close air support was called in to destroy the target with four laser-guided bombs.
The targeted individuals are purportedly linked to the Lions of Islam Martyr Group and are suspected of improvised explosive device trafficking, facilitating foreign fighters and conducting murder and intimidation campaigns in the region.
10 detained in Garmser District
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Acting on credible intelligence, Afghan and Coalition forces detained 10 suspected militants early today in Garmser District of Helmand Province.
The detainees will be questioned as to their identities and involvement in militant activities.
A small cache consisting of multiple small arms, ammunition and a grenade was found on-site and destroyed.
Commandos successful in first operation in Nangahar Province
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The brand-new battalion of Afghan National Army Commandos, along with a contingent of Afghan National Police advised by Coalition forces, conducted its first mission successfully during a two-day operation, which concluded this morning.
The operation was conducted 30 miles southwest of Jalalabad in the Sherzad District of Nangahar Province and the Commando-led force is credited with eliminating two weapons caches, a large quantity of opium and capturing a known Taliban facilitator, along with two other possible Taliban extremists, from three targeted compounds.
The planning and execution of the operation fell to the first unit of Commandos, an elite organization of Afghan soldiers, which graduated from the three-month training program at a camp near Kabul on July 28. The Commando and ANP teams, acting on credible intelligence, moved to the objective by both helicopters and ground vehicles.
The Commandos detained a key Taliban extremist facilitator identified as Haji Shir Khan. Khan is a known improvised explosive device maker, who is responsible for numerous IED attacks on Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Coalition forces in the Nangahar province.
During the search of the three compounds, the combined force discovered 18 rocket propelled grenade rounds, one anti-tank mine, 10 hand grenades, one 12-gauge shotgun, eight fully-loaded AK-47 magazines, and more than 80 kilograms of opium. All the items, except the shotgun and AK-47 magazines, were destroyed at the site.
Sept. 12 airpower summary: A-10s unleash the thunder
