Good News From The War On Terror 10/18
Iraqi and Coalition Forces detain Provincial Official with terrorist ties
BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Forces detained a Provincial Council member who is suspected of facilitating terrorist attacks during an intelligence-driven operation in Ad Diwaniyah Oct. 17.
The alleged terrorist, who has an active warrant for his arrest, is believed to routinely use his government position in order to support criminal terrorists in the local area.
The detainee is also believed to meet regularly with terrorist leaders and has been helping them obtain weapons and financial support to conduct vicious attacks against innocent civilians and Iraqi and Coalition Forces. He has allegedly used his influence as a government official to release militants from jail and has additionally helped these terrorists obtain jobs in the Iraqi Police and Facilities Protection Service.
There was no damage to Iraqi government property and no Iraqi or Coalition Forces were injured during the operation. Coalition Forces served as advisers during the operation.
Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda network; 15 suspects detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured three wanted individuals and detained an additional 12 suspected terrorists Thursday during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks throughout Iraq.
Coalition forces captured a wanted individual southwest of Tarmiyah, who is believed to be a member of the terrorist network in the city responsible for the majority of car-bombing and improvised explosive device attacks. Reports also indicate the network is involved in extortion, intimidation, weapons trafficking and the facilitation of foreign terrorists. In addition to the targeted individual, Coalition forces detained seven suspected terrorists on site.
Northwest of Tikrit, Coalition forces captured another wanted individual and detained three others for their alleged involvement in the movement of foreign terrorists. The targeted individual was also allegedly involved in facilitating false documentation and terrorist funds, and is believed to have ties to Syrian-based extremists attempting to communicate with the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri.
During an operation in Baghdad, Coalition forces targeted and captured an individual reported to be involved in kidnapping operations and attacks on Coalition forces. Intelligence reports indicate the individual has links to various Special Groups leaders operating throughout Baghdad. In addition to the targeted individual, Coalition forces detained two suspects.
72-year-old concerned citizen takes down suicide bomber
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – A 72-year-old man stopped a suspected suicide bomber from detonating himself at a checkpoint in Arab Jabour Oct. 14.
The man approached a checkpoint where Mudhehr Fayadh Baresh was standing guard, but did not make it very far.Baresh, a tribal commissioner and member of the Arab Jabour Concerned Citizens program, said he ordered the man to lift his shirt - using training received from Coalition Forces - when he did not recognize him as a local villager.
The suspect refused to lift his shirt. Baresh repeated the command again, and the suspect exposed his suicide vest, running toward the checkpoint.
Baresh opened fire which caused the vest to detonate, killing the suspect.
Iraqi Army, Coalition Forces discover weapons cache during Operation ‘Bone Breaker’
BAQOUBA, Iraq - The 5th Iraqi Army Division and Coalition Forces conducted Operation Bone Breaker in southeast Baqouba, capturing one large weapons cache containing assorted weapons and ammunition, as well as two smaller caches containing home-made explosives Oct. 15.
The larger weapons cache, found on a peninsula near the Diyala River known to local Iraqi citizens as “the Bone,” contained 20 propane tanks, 34 blasting caps, 500 feet of detonation cord, 21 assorted demolition charges, an 82mm mortar with equipment, three rocket-propelled grenade launchers with rockets and various small-arms ammunition.
The mission was planned by 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th IA Division, and executed jointly with 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment and 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Two smaller caches were also found which contained a total of 35 pounds of home-made explosives potentially used to build IEDs.
The operation involved more than 450 IA and CF soldiers, who conducted the operation with no casualties reported.
KALSU, Iraq – Soldiers discovered a large explosively formed projectile cache in North Babil Oct. 17.
Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, attached to the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, discovered more than 100 copper disks used to construct deadly EFPs east of Haswah during a follow-on mission to Operation Seven Mountains.
During Operation Seven Mountains, the Soldiers captured a militant suspected of constructing and planting EFPs in North Babil Oct. 16.
They also discovered EFPs, homemade explosives, and blocks of C4 hidden in a drainage ditch and canal.
The two caches combined are one of the largest EFP caches discovered in North Babil in more than a year.
EFPs are a particularly deadly type of roadside bomb used by Shia extremist groups.
