Good News From The War On Terror 10/20
Infantry company captures al-Qaeda cell members, clears buildings
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Eleven people were detained and 49 buildings cleared Oct. 16 during Operation Belleau Wood II, an intensive search north of Salman Pak to capture or kill al-Qaeda and insurgents operating in the area.
Soldiers from Company A, 1-15 Inf. Regt., detained the men after they were identified as possible insurgents responsible for attacks against 3rd HBCT. Improvised explosive device materials, two AK-47 assault rifles, a shotgun and ammunition were found during the search.
The 1-15 Inf. Regt., is assigned to 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div., from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.
Polish helicopters engage extremists in Ad Diwaniyah
CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Two Polish helicopters from Multi-National Division – Central South provided key air support following an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire attack on Coalition Forces Oct. 19 in eastern Ad Diwaniyah.
A total of three IEDs targeting a CF patrol were detonated prior to the helicopters arriving. The patrol also took fire from machine guns and an anti-tank grenade launcher.
Upon arrival to the scene, the Quick Reaction Force engaged the target, killing two extremists.
UPDATE: Coalition forces positively identify terrorist killed in recent raid
BAGHDAD, Iraq – A terrorist killed in Baqubah Friday has been positively identified as Thamir Aziz Abbas Ashuri.
During an operation south of Baqubah, Coalition forces targeted Aziz for his role as an al-Qaeda in Iraq improvised explosive device cell leader. Reports indicate he led a group of an estimated 250 terrorists, whom he directed on emplacing IEDs and conducting attacks against Iraq and Coalition forces. He was also believed to act as a judge for an illegal terrorist court system in the area.
As the ground force cleared the target building, they discovered a woman in a room and directed her to get down. Aziz fired shots at the ground force from a corner of that room, they returned fire and killed him. The woman was not harmed during the engagement and one other suspect was detained.
Coalition forces recently conducted numerous other successful operations in Baqubah, including an Oct. 16 raid where Coalition forces captured a wanted associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader in the al-Hadid region, a known terrorist stronghold. In addition to the targeted individual, the ground force detained one suspected terrorist.
Concerned Local Citizens round up caches, improve security
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Concerned Local Citizens from the village of Al Arafia delivered a large collection of munitions to Combat Outpost Cashe Oct.16.
The most recent delivery came as no surprise to Soldiers of Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment and elements of 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, stationed at COP Cashe.
Company D helped organize the first Concerned Local Citizens program in the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s area of operations. Since then, the brigade has integrated CLC into missions and used their tips to capture key insurgents.
The cache was transported via CLC by truck. The cache, consisting of munitions collected throughout Al Arafia, contained two 105mm artillery shells, twelve 75mm armor piercing rounds, two improvised explosive devices, one container of homemade explosive, six 50mm and two 82mm mortar rounds, one 200-pound bomb and one unidentifiable artillery round.
CLC tips have led to the seizure of 10 caches, the discovery of 12 IEDs and the detention of 103 suspects, according to Maj. Rhett Griner, from Jonesboro, Ga., effects coordinator for 3rd HBCT.
Many citizens of Mada’in Qada – a district east of Baghdad with roughly 1.2 million citizens - have shown their support by joining the CLC Program. The 3rd HBCT has conducted numerous missions with group members either leading or providing tips.
There are more than 1,600 Concerned Local Citizens operating throughout the Qada, according to Griner. The 3rd HBCT is working with local leaders to create more groups and working with the Ministry of Iraq to eventually transition the volunteers into the Iraq Security Forces.
Coalition forces capture two wanted terrorists, detain nine suspects
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and detained nine other suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks early Saturday in central Iraq.
Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and three additional suspected terrorists during an operation northwest of Muqdadiyah. One of the wanted individuals is believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader operating in the northern Diyala area. The other wanted individual is his brother, and also a suspected associate of the terrorist network operating in the region. Intelligence gained from previous operations led Coalition forces to the target area, where they captured the brothers without incident. During the course of operations, the ground force also discovered an improvised explosive device which was safely destroyed on site.
In Bayji, Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists during an operation targeting an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. Reports indicate that the targeted individual is part of a logistics network responsible for supplying weapons and supplies to foreign terrorists. The individual is also believed to have many contacts within the southern belt terrorist network, which allegedly facilitates the movement of foreign terrorists and suicide bombers for attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces.
41,000 pounds of homemade explosives seized
TARMIYAH, Iraq – Coalition Force Soldiers discovered and destroyed one of the largest weapons caches found in the Salah ad Din Province in the last 15 months Oct. 18.
CF discovered five weapons caches which contained approximately 41,000 pounds of explosives as well as 35 projectiles west of Tarmiya.
The caches were then destroyed by EOD without any additional damage or any casualties.
The fifth cache alone contained 300 separate bags of homemade explosives, each weighing 100 lbs. The crater from the blast measured 100 feet wide, 100 feet long and 30 feet deep.
Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain three suspected terrorists
TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained two suspected terrorist leaders during two simultaneous intelligence-driven raids earlier this week in Northern Iraq.
In Mosul, an individual believed to be an emir for Jaysh Muhammad was detained after Iraqi Security Forces raided his residence. The emir is allegedly responsible for conducting vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, IED and other types of attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces in the area.
In another operation in Mosul, Iraqi Special Operations Forces raided two residential buildings, detaining a Jaysh Muhammad cell leader believed to be responsible for facilitating weapons, money, equipment and communications to terrorist cells. Another suspected terrorist was also detained.
Raids result in capture of suspected Al Qaeda leaders
BAGHDAD – In a series of early morning raids Oct. 20, Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers killed one and captured several other individuals who are believed to be ranking members of Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist cells operating in Doura, a southern district in the Iraqi capital.
Soldiers assigned to Baker Company of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment “Warriors” out of Fort Carson, Colo., but attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division conducted the operations in an area where extremists have attempted to impose their will on the populace.
When the troops entered the target house, one of the individuals later identified as a high-value individual began to surrender but then pulled out a pistol and shot one of the Soldiers.
The terrorist was killed in the subsequent exchange of small arms fire.
A second high-value target believed to be an AQI improvised explosive device and sniper cell leader who has terrorized the people of Doura was also arrested at the scene and has been detained for further questioning.
A separate early morning raid by MND-B troops in Doura resulted in the arrests of two additional men believed to be responsible for making IEDs used to destroy mosques in West Rashid.
ANSF, Coalition forces disrupt terrorist actions
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition forces engaged and killed more than a dozen Taliban fighters to include a suspected Taliban commander in the Musa Qaleh Wadi region of Helmand Province today.
The combined ANSF and Coalition force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol in northern Helmand, when insurgents attacked them with small-arms and RPG fire. ANSF and Coalition forces immediately maneuvered and engaged the enemy with small-arms, close air support and artillery fire easily repelling the initial attack.
Taliban forces attempted to reinforce their positions with additional fighters and weapons for several hours but were repeatedly neutralized by friendly forces. There were no reports of non-combatant injuries or damage to property.
