Good News From The War On Terror 10/3
Iraqi, Coalition Forces detain six extremists in Tha’Alba raid
THA’ALBA, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition Forces captured six enemy targets during the early morning hours of Sept. 25 in Tha’Alba, Iraq, during Operation “Viking Squeeze II.”
U.S. Army Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., and Soldiers from the 5th Iraqi Army Brigade detained 10 individuals – six of which are suspected of facilitating and executing attacks against innocent civilians, ISF and CF.
Two of the detainees are members of a kill squad, one of whom is suspected of participating in a minimum of three murders in Sha’ab Village. Another detainee is a kidnapping specialist suspected of participating in the abduction of the Iraqi deputy of electricity. The fourth detainee is an anti-Coalition extremist company commander, suspected of being responsible for the emplacement of improvised explosive devices on routes traveled by coalition forces. The other two detainees are suspected of using their homes as safe houses for extremist meetings.
Four other suspects were detained in the raid.
Also captured in the raid were four AK-47s, two pistols, one PKC rifle and a shotgun, along with 13 full AK-47 magazines, more than 300 PKC rounds, four body armor vests, $15,400 in cash and numerous propaganda tapes.
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain four extremists in Southern Iraq
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained four suspected extremists in two separate operations Sept. 30 in Southern Iraq.
Iraqi Security forces detained a suspected Special Groups member in An Nasariyah who is suspected of conducting improvised explosive devices and indirect fire attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. He and his group are also suspected of conducting an assassination attempt against Nasariyah Tactical Support Unit commander which resulted in several deaths of innocent civilians.
The extremist is also suspected of smuggling weapons into the country. Intelligence reports tie him to an Iranian explosively formed penetrator ring. His group is linked to an Aug. 8 attack against Iraqi Police with IEDs, an Aug. 14 indirect fire attack on Tallil Air Base and an April 23 attack on an Australian convoy operating in the area.
In a separate operation, Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained a suspected extremist in Hay Aamel who is responsible for multiple improvised explosive device attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
The most recent occurred Aug. 12, when the group attacked a convoy headed for the International Zone by placing an IED under a Hay Al Alem bridge. He and his group are also responsible for kidnapping and extrajudicial killings of Sunni citizens in the Hay Aamel area.
The assault force found several tools or devices that were used to conduct kidnapping and torture. The devices consisted of electric saws, drills and ropes. Three other suspicious men were detained for further questioning.
Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda killing six terrorists, two suspects detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained two suspects during operations Monday and Tuesday targeting associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq in the central part of the country.
West of Balad Tuesday, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq member believed to be the key communications link between senior leaders of al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda in Iraq. When the ground force approached the target, they were engaged by an armed man who emerged from a vehicle. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces returned fire, killing two terrorists, and igniting the vehicle. Multiple secondary explosions erupted from the vehicle after it was engaged, indicating explosives stored inside. The nature of the explosions and detainee reporting indicated weapons and explosives were present in the vehicle. The ground force also detained one suspect on site.
Early Monday, Coalition forces discovered three men attempting to re-seed improvised explosive devices in an area where the ground force had previously destroyed several two IEDs. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged, killing one terrorist. The ground forces searched a nearby building in the same location and discovered two IED pressure plates which were safely destroyed on-site. That afternoon, surveillance elements witnessed three men emplacing several IEDs along a canal road. Again, perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces called an air strike on the time-sensitive target, killing the three terrorists.
During a two-day operation the Coalition forces also discovered three significant weapons caches. Intelligence led the ground force to a local school reported to be used as an al-Qaeda in Iraq safe house and mortar team staging area. Numerous weapons and ammunition were found on site to include mortar rounds, rocket propelled grenades, pressure plates, blasting caps, and rockets reported to be used as surface-to-air weapons in field expedient rocket launchers. Near the school, Coalition forces also discovered two other large caches with similar material to include hand grenades, IED making material and a training manual. The ground force detained one suspect during the operation. All weapons were safely destroyed by the ground force.
Coalition forces detain 12 suspects during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured two wanted terrorists and detained an additional ten suspects during operations Wednesday in central and northern Iraq.
In Baghdad, Coalition forces captured an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq believed to be a foreign terrorist facilitator with ties to terrorist safe houses in the region. Intelligence reports indicate that the individual is deeply connected to the foreign terrorist network and involved in the coordination of their suicide operations.
Coalition forces detained seven suspected terrorists during two coordinated operations along the Tigris River Valley. West of Samarra, ground forces targeted alleged associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq group responsible for attacks in and around Huwaish. Intelligence reports indicate that one of the individuals has ties to an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader and his security network, and has held meetings with numerous terrorists in the target area. The ground force captured one wanted individual and detained two additional suspects on site.
In another operation west of Tarmiyah, Coalition forces targeted an alleged associate of Abu Usama al-Tunisi, the former emir of the southern belt who was killed during an operation Sept. 25 (SEE MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE – IRAQ RELEASE A070928c, “Coalition Forces kill likely successor to Abu Ayyub al-Masri,” Sept. 28, 2007). The targeted individual is believed to be involved in foreign terrorist facilitation in Tarmiyah and Taji. The ground force detained four suspect terrorists on site without incident.
Farther north, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader in Kirkuk. Intelligence reports also indicate that the targeted individual has numerous connections to al-Qaeda in Iraq members operating in Mosul. The ground force detained two suspected terrorists on site in Kirkuk. Another two suspects were detained in Mosul during an operation targeting an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders in the city.
