Good News From The War On Terror 9/5
16 suspected car-bomb cell members captured during Operation Nijmegen III
KALSU, Iraq – A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell, with suspected links to al-Qaeda, believed to be responsible for attacks against citizens and security forces of North Babil, was the target of an early morning air assault and raid north of Diyarah Aug. 23.
Paratroopers from Company C, 3rd Battalion, 509th Airborne, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, captured 16 Sunni militants, believed to be members of al-Qaeda in Iraq during Operation Nijmegen III.
In addition to the extremists, the Paratroopers also captured propaganda and books on electronics and chemistry.
Coalition forces grab high-value IRGC-QF affiliate
BAGHDAD, Iraq – During a pre-dawn raid in Karbala Wednesday, Coalition forces captured a highly-sought individual suspected of being an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) affiliate.
Coalition forces also detained another individual for questioning.
The detained individual is suspected of coordinating with high-level IRGC-QF officers for the transportation of multiple Iraqis to Iran for terrorist training at IRGC-QF training camps. He is also a known logistics facilitator providing lethal aid to terrorists operating in central Baghdad. It is likely that the affiliate is closely linked to individuals at the highest levels of the IRGC-QF. Coalition forces are still assessing his possible connection to the Special Groups.
Intelligence derived from other security detainees led Coalition forces to the residence of the individual. Ground troops confiscated computer equipment, communication devices, miscellaneous documents and photographs. It is believed that the captured documents may lead to information on other IRGC-QF illicit activities intended to disrupt security operations in Iraq. There were no Iraqi or Coalition forces casualties during the precision raid.
“As Iran continues its proxy war against the people of Iraq, Coalition forces will continue to build on recent operations to disrupt the flow of illicit, lethal materials from Iran into Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokeman. “The capture of individuals affiliated with the IRGC-Quds Force is an integral part of dismantling terror networks that seek to kill innocent Iraqis and security forces.”
Troops detain 16 suspected Shia extremists
MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq – In a predawn raid on a large apartment complex in Mahmudiyah, Coalition and Iraqi troops detained 16 suspected Shia extremist members Sept. 1.
Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), out of Fort Drum, N.Y., along with their Iraqi counterparts from 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, conducted the combined air assault and ground operation.
Mahmudiyah’s al-Qa Qaa apartment complex is about a square mile of three-story buildings housing thousands of residents, mainly lower-income Shia.
After an Iraqi army company commander was killed by Shia extremists in Mahmudiyah Aug. 28, U.S. and Iraqi forces have worked together to bring the perpetrators to justice, raiding Shia safe houses and homes.
Soldiers in UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters landed in the darkness and quickly surrounded the target buildings, ensuring no one fled the scene.
A few minutes later, U.S. and Iraqi troops arrived in Humvees and Badger armored troop carriers to search the buildings.
The force swept through the buildings, and brought all military-age males down to a central point for questioning as OH-58 Kiowa helicopters circled the area.
After the males were in military control and a cursory search had been conducted, Soldiers with bomb-sniffing dogs thoroughly cleared the apartments and put evidence into plastic bags marked with the apartment’s number.
Although the dogs did not sniff out any explosives, among the items confiscated were two Iraqi police pistols, 120 Iraqi-style gas masks and an AK-47 assault rifle.
Ziemba, from Wilbraham, Mass., said his unit has a good rapport with the Mahmudiyah soldiers and that they are growing together as a joint force.
After 16 suspected Shia extremists were identified by informants and Iraqi troops, the rest of the men were released to their apartments.
Al-Qaeda leader killed, 18 suspected terrorists detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader and detained 18 suspected terrorists during operations Wednesday to disrupt the al-Qaeda in Iraq network and its bombing operations in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition forces killed the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of the Arab Jabour area, who managed all terrorist attacks in the area south of Baghdad. When Coalition forces approached the target building, they received small arms fire. Returning fire in self-defense, they killed one terrorist who was later determined to be the terrorist emir. The ground forces detained eight suspected terrorists and discovered a cache of machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Coalition forces called in an air strike that safely destroyed the cache.
In northern Iraq, Coalition forces conducted three operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and their associates. The ground forces detained 10 suspected terrorists during the operations in Mosul and Bayji. One suspect is believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in his neighborhood, and another allegedly has ties to senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in northern Iraq.
Combined forces kill suspected extremists in Ghazni
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan—Early this morning in Ghazni Province, Afghan and Coalition forces conducted operations resulting in the deaths of several militants.
Suspected militants fired upon the combined force using small arms, grenades and rocket propelled grenades. The combined force returned fire and employed precision munitions, resulting in the death of several militants and significant damage to the compound. A militant wearing an ammunition vest and carrying a weapon fled the area; he was pursued and killed by Coalition forces.
ANSF, Coalition kill nearly four dozen more insurgents in northern Kandahar Province
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces, advised by Coalition forces, killed nearly four dozen insurgents in a 12-hour long battle today in northern Kandahar Province.
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, nealy 200 extremist Taliban fighters have been killed during failed attempts to attack ANSF and Coalition forces.
A combined force of Afghan National Civil Order Police and Coalition forces was on a combat patrol near Alekowzi Village, Sha Wali Kot District, Kandahar Province, when they began taking small-arms and machine gun fire from approximately 10 insurgents. Within 20 minutes of the battle starting, the combined force was further engaged by an estimated 20 RPG’s, fired from the nearby Hutak Village.
The extremist fighters were visually observed firing on the patrol from compounds located within the villages. Throughout the engagement, insurgents reinforced their positions with an estimated 150 additional fighters.
The ANCOP-led force repelled the attack using small-arms, crew served weapons and later called in Coalition close air support. Coalition aircraft destroyed the positively identified enemy firing positions with precision guided munitions.
More then 40 insurgents were killed in today’s engagement and no ANCOP, Coalition or non-combatants were reported injured or killed.
Sept. 4 airpower summary: F-15Es strike from above
