Right Wing Champ: Good News From The War On Terror 9/4

Operation Hit and Run results in eight detained

HAWR RAJAB, Iraq – Soldiers of the “Denali Squadron” detained eight suspected al-Qaeda members and confiscated four AK-47 assault rifles during Operation Hit and Run, an air assault mission Sept. 1.
Troop C, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, currently attached to 2nd BCT 3rd Inf. Div., along with six Iraqi soldiers, air assaulted into an area near Hawr Rajab where a suspected al-Qaeda cell was operating. The troop conducted raids on five separate buildings, which led to eight suspects detained.
This cell reportedly used the area as its sanctuary, from where members could commit violence and intimidation in western Hawr Rajab.
Local residents told Soldiers some of the detainees had emplaced improved explosive devices on Coalition routes, murdered and kidnapped citizens, and were involved in an earlier attack on Patrol Base Dog.

Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces detain AQI leaders near Kirkuk

TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi Army Scouts, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained the suspected al Qaeda in Iraq leader of the Old Za’ab Village during a driven raid Sept. 3 near Kirkuk.

The suspected leader’s cell includes former Ba’ath Party, 1920th Revolutionary Brigade, Islamic State of Iraq, New Ba’ath Party and El-Huk Brigade members. Additionally, his group is suspected of orchestrating attacks in Ninewa, Salah ah Dinand At' Tamim provinces.

During an earlier operation Sept. 1 in Za’ab, Scouts were able to detain the leader’s deputy, a wanted member of the former Ba’ath Party. In addition, the village is believed to be a safe haven and planning node for synchronization of al Qaeda in Iraq forces.

More than a half dozen propane tanks and wires, 125,000 Iraqi Dinar, and assorted documents were seized during these operations.

Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces dismantle al Qaeda in Iraq cell, detain 46

TAJI, Iraq – Members from the 3rd Iraqi Army, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, dismantled an al Qaeda in Iraq cell, detaining six suspected terrorists during an early morning raid Sept. 3 in Rabi’ah.
The al Qaeda in Iraq cell is believed to be responsible for vicious attacks against innocent civilians, and Iraqi and Coalition Forces. The cell is also suspected of funding terrorist operations in the local area.
One of the targeted terrorists is believed to be linked to a brutal attack in Mosul that resulted in the death of seven Iraqi Police, while another detainee is suspected of having financial ties with Syrian Intelligence to support the insurgency. In addition, one of the six suspects is an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq Amir who assists in financing insurgent operations.
After systematically clearing five buildings, forces detained 40 other suspicious individuals with connections to the al Qaeda in Iraq network. Several ID cards, various documents, photographs, books, improvised explosive device making material, and one box of PKC, heavy machine-gun ammunition were seized.

Coalition forces kill one, detain two in search for smugglers of Iranian weapons

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained two suspected weapons smugglers in a pre-dawn raid Tuesday in the village of Qazaniyah, near the Iraqi-Iranian border northeast of Baquba.

Coalition forces conducted a raid to capture or kill weapons facilitators suspected of smuggling weapons from Iran into Iraq. The detained individuals are suspected of having regular and recent contact with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps – Quds Force. The suspects are believed to have smuggled and distributed Iranian weapons, including deadly explosively formed penetrators (EFPs). Intelligence reports indicate the weapons facilitators have traveled to and from Iran recently. Coalition forces believe the capture of these two individuals will lead to more intelligence on weapons smuggling networks and possibly more arrests.

While conducting the raid, Coalition forces identified an armed gunman maneuvering aggressively against Coalition forces. In accordance with the rules of engagement, Coalition forces fired in self defense on the armed gunman, killing him.

A search of multiple buildings revealed AK-47s, multiple magazines of ammunition, tactical military gear, questionable documents, photographs and currency, all confiscated for further analysis.

Several militants killed in Ghazni operation

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces killed several suspected militants and wounded another early this morning during an operation in Ghazni.
The forces suspected Taliban militants were hiding in an area of Qarabagh District.
During the course of operations, the forces were engaged by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. The forces returned fire, using precision munitions as necessary, resulting in the death of several militants who were armed and wearing ammunition vests. Mines were also found on-site.
Three men were also detained and will be questioned as to their involvement in extremist activities. One detainee was wounded and was treated on-site.

Over dozen insurgents killed in Kandahar fighting

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Over one dozen insurgents were killed after a failed Taliban attack by over 40 enemy fighters on Afghan National Army and Coalition forces during a combat patrol in the Kandahar Province yesterday.
An element of the Afghan National Army’s 205^th Corps, advised by Coalition forces, was searching for insurgents one kilometer (.6 miles) north of Kharwari Chineh Village, Sha Wali Kot District, when the large Taliban force attacked from compounds and fighting positions using small arms, heavy machine gun and recoilless rifle fire.
The ANA-led force repelled the attempted ambush with accurate small arms fire and crew-served weapons. During the five-hour long battle, the insurgents reinforced their positions with a large group of fighters.
The ANSF requested close air support in order to defeat the entrenched enemy. Coalition aircraft used precision guided munitions on one compound that contained a large Taliban concentration engaging the combined force with a heavy volume of machine gun fire.

Several insurgents killed in failed ambushes in northern Kandahar Province

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Two attempted insurgent ambushes failed Sept. 4 as Afghan National Security Forces, advised by Coalition forces, repelled and killed nearly two dozen enemy fighters in separate battles in northern Kandahar Province.
These attacks come on the heels of a failed attack the night before that saw more than a dozen insurgents killed in the same district of Afghanistan. Today’s failed ambushes occurred a little more than 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) apart.
In the first engagement, a combined force of Afghan National Army and Coalition forces was on a combat patrol near Jalet Push Village, Sha Wali Kot District, Kandahar Province, when they spotted 20-25 insurgents in fighting positions and an unknown number of fighters taking up positions in a compound. The insurgents attacked the patrol with small arms and machine gun fire and continued to reinforce their positions throughout the daylong battle.
The ANSF-led force repelled the attack using small arms, crew served weapons and Coalition close air support. Surgical and precision air strikes were carried out on positively identified enemy positions from where machine gun and RPG fire was originating.
Over a dozen insurgents were killed in this engagement and one ANA soldier was wounded. No other ANA, Coalition or non-combatants were reported injured or killed.
In the second engagement, a combined force of Afghan National Police and Coalition forces were conducting a separate combat patrol near Kabolah Village, Sha Wali Kot District, Kandahar Province, when they came under small-arms fire from more than a dozen insurgents. The insurgents attacked from compounds located within the village.
The ANSF patrol returned fire with small arms and crew served weapons and called for Coalition close air support. Prior to engaging the insurgents with aircraft, the combined force utilized their loudspeaker system and notified the villagers to leave the area because an attack was imminent.
The ANP spoke with the village elders as they left and confirmed that all of the non-combatants had evacuated. Coalition aircraft then engaged and destroyed the two buildings that the insurgents were using as fighting positions after the Taliban attacked again.
Six insurgents were killed and two were wounded in this engagement. In addition, one Coalition servicemember was wounded during the battle. No other ANP, Coalition or non-combatants were reported wounded or killed in the fighting.
“The Afghan National Army is proving day after day that they are highly capable of finding and destroying the enemies of Afghanistan,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesperson. “Even when the insurgents have had time to fortify their positions, the ANA are determined to overcome the enemy obstacles. Let there be no doubt, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan along with Coalition forces will continue to hunt, fight and defeat the enemies of peace and stability.”
The Sha Wali Kot District is an area where multiple attacks on ANSF and Coalition forces have taken place in the past. Since Aug. 27, more than 150 extremist Taliban fighters have been killed during failed attempts to attack ANSF and Coalition forces.