Good News From The War On Terror 9/6
Six terrorists killed, 25 suspects detained, al-Qaeda network disrupted
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 25 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq’s operational networks in the Tigris River Valley and Kirkuk Thursday.
Coalition forces conducted two raids in and around Tarmiyah targeting senior members of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s network in the northern belts around Baghdad. During one raid, three armed men drew their weapons when the ground forces approached them. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces engaged the three armed men, killing them. As the ground forces continued to secure the area, they observed two men, one who was carrying a rifle, maneuvering into position against them. Coalition forces responded to the hostile threat, engaging and killing both.
During the second raid, a man drew his pistol on Coalition forces, who responded by engaging and killing the armed terrorist. Between the two raids, the ground forces detained seven suspected terrorists.
Farther north, Coalition forces used intelligence gained during operations Aug. 30 to capture a suspected close associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. The ground forces detained six additional suspected terrorists during the operations in Samarra and Tikrit.
Coalition forces captured a suspected member of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell near Baqubah believed to be responsible for bombing and ambush attacks on Coalition forces and Iraqi civilians. Intelligence reports indicate the cell member helped emplace snipers and illegal checkpoints used to kidnap civilians and hold them for ransom. Nine more individuals were detained for their alleged ties to the terrorist cell.
Iraqi and Coalition forces in Kirkuk detained one suspected terrorist during an operation targeting a car-bombing cell there.
More insurgents killed as government forces continue operations in Kandahar Province
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – An eight-hour-long battle this morning in the Kandahar Province ended with another defeat of the Taliban by Islamic Republic of Afghanistan forces.
A combined force led by an element of the 205th Afghan National Army Corps, advised by Coalition forces, was on a combat patrol near a small village in the Meian Nashin district, when more than 30 enemy fighters attacked from multiple compounds and fighting positions using small-arms fire.
The ANA-led force repelled the attempted ambush with accurate small-arms and crew served weapons fire. As the insurgents continued to reinforce their positions with additional fighters, the ground commander requested Coalition close air support. Coalition aircraft destroyed multiple enemy positions with precision-guided munitions and also killed additional enemy insurgents in hilltop fighting positions with accurate machine gun fire. The ANA and Coalition force counterattack caused the enemy to break and flee from the field of battle.
As the combined force followed the fleeing enemy, they again came under heavy fire from another group of extremist Taliban fighters reinforcing from the nearby Zabutu valley. The ANA and Coalition force repelled this attack with additional air strikes and tactical movement. Over the course of the day, over 20 insurgents were killed and at least four were wounded.
Since Aug. 27, more than 200 extremist Taliban fighters have been killed during failed attempts to attack ANSF and Coalition forces in the northern part of Kandahar province.
Sept. 5 airpower summary: B-1B supports close-air missions
