Good News From The War On Terror 9/19
Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces kill Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist, detain 18 others in northern Iraq
TAJI – Iraqi Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, killed one al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist and detained 18 others during three separate operations Sept. 17 and Sept. 18 in northern Iraq.
During an operation Sept. 18, Soldiers from the 2nd Iraqi Army Division were called in to support other Iraqi forces that began receiving enemy fire in Sharqat, near Mosul. After suppressing the enemy, the forces conducted an operation on intelligence that several high-ranking AQI terrorists were meeting in the area. One suspected terrorist, who is believed to be responsible for facilitating AQI movement, was detained. A 9mm sub-machine gun, a handgun and AK-47 ammunition were seized.
In a separate raid Sept. 18, Iraqi Security Forces in Bulayj detained three individuals while conducting a presence patrol through multiple villages reported to be AQI safe havens. Two of the detainees are alleged AQI facilitators in the area.
During an earlier operation, Iraqi Army forces killed one extremist and detained 14 others after receiving enemy fire during a combat patrol to recover a weapons cache Sept. 17 in the village of Hugna, near Kirkuk.
Upon entry into the village, the patrol came under direct small arms fire. The forces immediately returned well-aimed and proportionate fire, killing Baha Turki Abd Shabib, a known AQI assassin operating in Hawijah, Bayji and Mosul. He is linked to the deaths of more than 60 innocent Iraqis, including the beheading of an Iraqi Army Soldier, and is responsible for manufacturing improvised explosive devices to be used in future terrorist attacks.
After the fire-fight, the forces began clearing targeted structures within the village. Iraqi forces pursued multiple fleeing individuals into a nearby mosque and detained 14 suspected terrorists.
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Operations Forces detain seven terrorists
BALAD – Iraqi Army Scouts conducted a series of intelligence-driven helicopter-assault raids Sept. 18, resulting in the destruction of an insurgent weapons cache southwest of Taji.
During the raids, an insurgent weapons cache was discovered with more than 100 containers of nitric acid, eight anti-aircraft weapons, and improvised explosive device materials. The cache was destroyed in place using close air support. Three individuals, including a purported al Qaeda in Iraq sniper team spotter, were detained.
During a concurrent operation, members of the Emergency Response Unit detained an al Qaeda in Iraq Emir and two cell members Sept. 18 in the al Adhamiyah area of Baghdad.
The Emir and his cell members are suspected of conducting IED and indirect fire attacks against local citizens and Coalition Forces. The cell also kidnaps and murders Iraqi forces and Sunni citizens who stand against their criminal activities.
The extremists are linked to a May 3, 2007 IED attack that killed several civilians, as well as several attacks in March 2007 against an Iraqi National Guard facility and Coalition forces in the al Kadhamiyah area.
In October 2006, they were linked to an attack that killed several Iraqi National Guardsmen and found to be responsible for detonating an IED against a U.S. military convoy. In July 2005, they were suspected of murdering a female college student attending the IBN al Haythm College.
In a separate raid, Iraqi Army Reconnaissance Soldiers detained a suspected extremist Sept. 18 in the Taji area. The suspected extremist leads a company who is responsible for conducting multiple attacks using IEDs and explosively formed penetrators along main supply routes including an August 22, 2007 attack using an EFP against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
Coalition forces kill one terrorist, detain 7 suspects
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed one Iraqi terrorist linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps - Quds Force and detained another seven suspected terrorists during pre-dawn operations in Balad Ruz and northern Baghdad Wednesday.
The operation in Balad Ruz targeted a wanted Iraqi suspected of links to the movement of weapons, equipment and foreign terrorists across the Iran-Iraq border. He is believed to have numerous connections to other suspected Special Groups leaders operating out of Diyala Province.
When ground forces arrived at the target area, an armed terrorist engaged them with small arms fire. Coalition forces responded in self-defense and returned fire, killing the terrorist. Additional intelligence during the operation led the ground forces to a follow-on location, where they detained four men without incident.
A separate operation north of Baghdad targeted a Special Groups leader who reportedly oversees all logistics and operations in the area. The individual is linked to a large cache of explosively formed penetrators found Feb. 25 in the Baqubah area (SEE MULTI-NATIONAL CORPS – IRAQ RELEASE #20070226-01, “Iraqi Police, Coalition Forces Discover Large EFP Cache,” DATED Feb. 26, 2007). Intelligence reports also indicate the targeted individual facilitates the movement of foreign terrorists by providing them with false identification cards, trains operatives in bomb-making and smuggles weapons from Iran. Coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists during the operation.
Coalition forces capture 11 suspected al-Qaeda members
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition forces captured five wanted individuals and detained six additional suspected terrorists during operations Wednesday targeting terrorist leaders in northern Iraq and their operatives in the Tigris River Valley.
Iraqi and Coalition forces captured two alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives in the Hamrin Mountains southeast of Kirkuk. Both are believed to be tied to al-Qaeda leaders in Iran and Pakistan, and have extensive knowledge of the network’s smuggling operations. The ground forces detained one additional suspect for his alleged involvement in the terrorist network.
Northwest of Mosul, Coalition forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq adviser and recruiter who had provided a two-month indoctrination to terrorists joining the network. Two additional suspects were detained.
Coalition forces detained five suspected terrorists during operations near Tikrit and Samarra. One of the detainees was wanted for allegedly leading an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell and conducting attacks on Coalition forces. Another detainee was wanted for his suspected association with al-Qaeda in Iraq’s network south of Baghdad, where he was believed to facilitate the movement and training of foreign terrorists.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader killed
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed an al-Qaeda in Iraq military advisor during an operation Aug. 31 west of Tarmiyah.
Coalition forces conducted a precision operation west of Tarmiyah Aug. 31. The assault force followed a vehicle containing two suspected terrorists and attempted to get the driver to stop. When the driver resisted capture, the assault force fired on the vehicle. Both the driver and the passenger were killed in the operation. Coalition forces later identified one of the men as Abu Yaqub al-Masri.
Al-Masri, who is also known as Zakkariya or Doctor, was a military advisor to al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in Baghdad and the surrounding belts. He provided guidance and direction for attack planning, coordination and execution.
Intelligence reports indicate al-Masri was directed by senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders to plan attacks that would cultivate sectarian strife. The former al-Qaeda in Iraq military emir of Baghdad, now detained by Coalition forces, described al-Masri as director of the “car bomb division.”
Al-Masri was one of the primary architects behind the Nov. 26 car bombings in Sadr City that killed 181 Iraqi civilians and injured another 247. He also planned major attacks on the bridges in the Rusafa area to isolate the Shi’ite population there.
Al-Masri previously fought against Coalition forces in Afghanistan and is linked to several senior leaders of al-Qaeda. He was allied with Dr. Ayman Zawahiri, bin Laden’s second-in-command. He was also close to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the former leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq killed in a Coalition air strike in June 2006.
Sept. 18 airpower summary: A-10s provide security
