Good News From The War On Terror 10/27
Coalition forces capture extremist splinter group leader
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a senior militia extremist, killed two others and detained an additional 14 admitted criminals during operations in the village of al Fawwaliyah, northwest of Khalis early Saturday.
The operation was targeting a splinter group leader, who was not honoring Muqtada al-Sadr's pledge to cease attacks and who was involved in weapons procurement, kidnapping operations and explosively formed penetrator attacks against Coalition forces. Intelligence indicates that this individual also has ties to an Iranian intelligence cell.
As the assault force approached the building where the criminals were believed to be housed, they called for the occupants to exit the building. Two armed men with weapons and hand grenades maneuvered on the assault force, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest. Coalition forces engaged, killing the two men after they failed to comply with instructions and warning shots. Upon securing the area, the main target of the raid identified himself and peacefully surrendered to the ground force. Inside the building, Coalition forces discovered several automatic weapons, a sniper rifle, maps and ammunition magazines. The area was further assessed to be a substantial militia extremists' compound used to coordinate criminal activity in the area. An additional 14 admitted criminals were detained on site.
Concerned Local Citizens help round up suspected extremists
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Seven suspected extremists were detained in three separate incidents over a 24-hour period in Hawr Rajab and Arab Jabour.
The Concerned Local Citizens in the two areas were key participants in all of the detentions.
In the largest incident, four suspected extremists were detained by a group of concerned citizens in Hawr Rajab and turned over to Iraqi Army Soldiers at a checkpoint Oct. 24 for questioning.Concerned citizens in Arab Jabour also detained one individual Oct. 24 when they identified the suspect as a known al-Qaeda operative. Concerned citizens turned the individual over to Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga.
The other two alleged insurgents were captured in an overnight raid conducted by Troop B, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, out of Fort Richardson, Alaska. The men were detained after residents pointed them out as possible members of al-Qaeda.
All detainees are being held for questioning.
Paratroopers discover rocket cache
KALSU, Iraq – A large cache of rockets were found by paratroopers in North Babil Oct. 26.
Paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Military Transition Team 0820 found a cache containing 27 Iranian-made 107MM Katusha rockets during combat operations in Al Hilla.
In addition to the rockets, two multiple launch rocket systems capable of firing 20 rockets at a time, 11 launching rails, nine batteries, eight firing devices, timers, blasting caps and other equipment used to fire the rockets were also found.The rockets, launch platforms and other equipment were taken for investigation.
Improvised explosive device cache turned in
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – The Concerned Local Citizens in Hawr Rajab turned in a weapons cache to Entry Control Point 20, a base located southeast of Baghdad Oct. 24.
The concerned citizens, who routinely assist the Company A, 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, and the Paratroopers of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska, turned in the cache for safe disposal.
The cache consisted of one 82mm mortar round, six 56mm rounds, two two-liter bottles filled with homemade explosives, and two 120mm mortars with pressure plates attached to them.
This is the sixth improvised explosive device cache concerned citizens have turned in over a six-day period. To date, the Hawr Rajab Concerned Local Citizens have turned in nearly 30 IEDs.
Coalition forces disrupt foreign terrorist networks; 15 suspects detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured one wanted individual and detained 14 other suspects early Saturday during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
West of Balad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a member of a foreign terrorist facilitation network that channels extremists into Iraq. Reports indicate the targeted individual is an associate of an al-Qaeda senior leader operating outside of Iraq, who is involved in facilitating terrorist funds and information into the country. During the course of operations, the suspect identified himself to the ground force and was detained without incident. In addition to the targeted individual, seven suspected terrorists were detained on site.
Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces targeted another member of a foreign terrorist facilitation network. Intelligence reports indicate the targeted individual is associated with senior facilitators operating outside of the country, and is reportedly planning a meeting with the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader. Six suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.
During another operation north of Fallujah, Coalition forces targeted a suspected associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and a building used as their safe house and meeting place. One suspect was detained on site.
These operations continue successful Coalition forces targeting of foreign terrorist facilitation networks across Iraq, including operations Oct. 23 and 26 in Bayji. During these operations, the ground forces killed one terrorist, captured two wanted individuals and detained 14 other suspects for their roles in providing operational and logistical support.
Afghan National Security, Coalition forces kill dozens of Taliban fighters in Helmand Province
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition forces killed a large number of Taliban fighters after being ambushed in the Musa Qaleh Wadi region of Helmand Province Oct. 27.
The combined force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol when Taliban fighters engaged them with rocket and small arms fire. The combined patrol immediately returned fire, maneuvered, and employed close air support resulting in almost seven dozen Taliban fighters killed during a six hour engagement. During the battle, the combined force exchanged small arms fire with the fleeing attackers, quickly putting them on the defensive.
The insurgents attacked from a trench line using small arms, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. The ANSF and Coalition forces fixed the enemy in their positions and four separate precision munition engagements killed over six dozen insurgents while trying to reinforce enemy positions.
