Good News From The War On Terror 9/21-22
One terrorist killed, eight suspected terrorists detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained eight suspected terrorists during several operations Friday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in the central part of the country.
Coalition forces captured a suspected leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq in the Arab Jabour area during operations in Baghdad. The individual is believed to build bombs for the Baghdad car-bombing network and has oversight of their past and future attacks. This individual is also believed to facilitate the movement and training of foreign terrorists in the region.
During the course of operations, an armed terrorist maneuvered toward security elements. Using appropriate self-defense measures, Coalition forces killed the armed terrorist. Coalition forces also received small arms and machine gun fire from an enemy element that had moved into the target area. Coalition forces called in close air support and returned fire in self-defense. Because of the security situation on the objective, ground forces were not able to determine if any enemy were killed or wounded by the aircraft fire.
In addition to the targeted individual, ground forces detained three suspected terrorists on the scene.
Also in the capital city, Coalition forces conducted a precision operation and captured one suspected terrorist tied to a senior leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq in the southern belt around Baghdad.
Northeast of Ramadi, Coalition forces detained one suspected terrorist believed to facilitate weapons logistics for al-Qaeda in Iraq and terrorists in other countries. Coalition forces also detained two suspected terrorists in operations southeast of Balad.
Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain six terrorists in Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained four militant extremists and two al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists during two operations Sept. 20 in the Baghdad area.
During one of the operations, Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained an alleged militant extremist commander and three suspected insurgents in the Aamel area of Baghdad.
The alleged militant extremist company commander operates out of Hay Al-Amil and is suspected of directing other extremists to conduct kidnappings, executions and mortar attacks against innocent Sunni civilians.
One other high-level extremist and two suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.
Four AK-47 assault rifles, three magazines, one computer, four cell phones and one video camera were seized.
In a separate operation targeting al Qaeda in Iraq criminals, Soldiers from the 6th Iraqi Army Division detained two Sunni extremists during an early-morning operation in Arab Jabour.
One of the detainees is suspected of commanding a cell that conducts extra judicial killings and specializes in attacks using improvised explosive devices in the Jabour area.
Paratroopers detain 14 suspects
HAWR RAJAB, Iraq — Paratroopers detained 14 suspected insurgents Sept. 20, several of whom were identified as members of kidnapping and improvised explosive device cells.
Paratroopers of 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, also destroyed four vehicles suspected of being used by a kidnapping cell.
Of the 14 detainees, eight were identified by concerned citizens as members of an IED cell, two as IED emplacers, and one as a known insurgent.
The operation also yielded a cache of 200 feet of command wire, one AK-47 assault rifle, a full magazine, and four empty magazines.
The mission was part of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division’s Marne Torch II, an operation designed to reduce insurgent activity south of Baghdad and stem the flow of explosives, weapons, and insurgents into Baghdad.
Marne Torch II continues to bring in AQI members
HAWR RAJAB, Iraq — Paratroopers conducting Operation Bethel detained insurgent suspects and destroyed weapons caches Sept. 19.
The Paratroopers of Company B, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, currently attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, detained seven suspects, two of whom were connected to the production of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.
The Hawr Rajab operation also yielded a homemade explosives cache.
While searching a building, Paratroopers discovered several hundred 20-kilogram bags of detergent that an explosive ordnance disposal team assessed as key ingredients in the creation of homemade explosives.
An AH-64 Apache helicopter destroyed the building with a Hellfire missile.
A second air weapons team destroyed a suspected VBIED factory that was discovered by another group of Paratroopers in the area.
While conducting a patrol on the ground, the Paratroopers found a car missing its battery and one wheel. A military working dog reacted to the trunk, which was not opened for fear of booby traps. An air strike was called in to safely dispatch the vehicle and the building in which the car was parked.
Two Apaches from 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, destroyed the vehicle and building with two Hellfire missiles. The attack helicopters destroyed four other vehicles at the site with their 30mm cannons.Soldiers at the scene counted seven secondary explosions at the site, which indicates explosives were hidden in the vehicles and building.
Operation Bethel also yielded several munitions, weapons and other items used in terrorist acts.
Capt. Donald Braman, commander, Troop B, 1-40th Cav. Regt., said the operation will have a significant impact on al-Qaeda command and control. The detainment of the two members involved in VBIED production will also reduce al-Qaeda's ability to conduct offensive operations in Hawr.Operation Bethel is part of 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div.’s Operation Marne Torch II, designed to reduce insurgent activity south of Baghdad and stem the flow of explosives, weapons and insurgents into Baghdad.
Eight terrorists killed, 25 suspected terrorists detained in Coalition raids
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed eight terrorists and detained 25 suspected terrorists Friday and Saturday during operations in the Tigris River Valley to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq’s senior leadership.
During operations in Musayyib Saturday, Coalition forces captured a suspected associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq network operating in the southern belt around Baghdad. The targeted individual is believed to be responsible for movement of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and have extensive knowledge of their locations.
On the scene, ground forces killed seven terrorists and found weapons and military-style assault vests. In addition to the targeted individual, Coalition ground forces also detained 11 suspected terrorists during the raid.
In a coordinated raid North of Tikrit Saturday, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual who is believed to be responsible for ordering, financing and carrying out attacks east of Balad for al-Qaeda in Iraq. Intelligence reports indicate that the suspected terrorist is a known associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders in the Balad region and throughout the Tigris River Valley. Coalition forces also detained six suspected terrorists during the raid.
Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces conducted a precision operation and captured a suspected terrorist believed to be a senior member within the al-Qaeda in Iraq media network. The suspect was attempting to revive the network after previous Coalition operations disrupted al-Qaeda in Iraq’s media capabilities during raids on their media cells July 4 and Aug. 22. In addition to the targeted individual, Coalition forces detained four other suspected terrorists also believed to be involved in the al-Qaeda in Iraq media network.
In operations in the capital city Friday, Coalition forces conducted a raid targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders associated with the car-bombing network in Baghdad. Ground forces killed a terrorist that was one of the targeted individuals and detained one suspected terrorist during the raid.
Suspected militants killed in Garmser district
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Approximately 40 anti-coalition militants were killed early this morning in the Garmsir district of the Helmand province during an operation to deter hostile activities in the area.
A combined Afghan and Coalition team made their way to the Garmsir district where credible intelligence indicated violent extremist forces may be hiding.
During the course of operations the combined force employed precision munitions killing a large number of combatants.
A search of the area revealed multiple weapons caches – consisting of more than 20 rocket propelled grenades, significant amounts of ammunition, and landmines. One building containing munitions was suspected of being an improvised holding cell.
In order to destroy the caches and prevent their future use, both the buildings and caches were destroyed using munitions and timed charges.
Sept. 20 airpower summary: C-130s sustain airlift operations
Sept. 21 airpower summary: F-16s fill multiple combat roles
