Good News From The War On Terror 10/5
Coalition forces target Special Groups member, kill 25 terrorists
BAGHDAD – Coalition forces were engaged in a heavy firefight Friday morning, killing an estimated 25 criminals during operations west of Baqubah.
Coalition forces were targeting a Special Groups commander believed to be associated with members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard – Quds Force. Intelligence indicates that he was responsible for facilitating criminal activity and is involved in the movement of various weapons from Iran to Baghdad.
Upon entering the target area, Coalition forces received heavy fire from a group of armed men fighting from defensive positions. Responding in self-defense, the ground force returned fire. Enemy fire intensified and supporting aircraft were called in an attempt to suppress the threat.
The armed group continued to engage, and began to aggressively maneuver toward Coalition forces, firing assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. The ground force also observed one armed individual carrying what appeared to be an anti-aircraft weapon into a nearby building. Perceiving hostile intent, supporting aircraft engaged, killing an estimated 25 criminals and destroying two buildings.
Iraqi Security Forces kill foreign fighter near Salman Pak
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Iraqi policemen from the 1st Brigade, 1st National Police Division killed a foreign fighter from Yemen Sept. 27 southwest of Salman Pak.
This is the first confirmation of foreign fighters operating in areas patrolled by 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team Soldiers or their Iraqi counterparts.
The Yemenese-born fighter, Abu Muhammad Al-Yameni, was armed with a PKC machine gun and grenades at the time of his death.
Soldiers from the 3rd HBCT work daily with policemen from the 1-1 NP to secure Salman Pak and its surrounding communities.
The Mada’in Qada is a portion of the Baghdad Province just east of Baghdad. The 3rd HBCT has been working with various Iraqi Security Forces since their deployment to the Qada in March 2007.
Coalition forces target foreign terrorist facilitators: 12 killed, four detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed 12 terrorists and detained four suspects Friday while conducting operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq in the northern and central parts of the country.
Coalition forces conducted an operation in Baghdad targeting an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. When the ground force arrived in the target area, they observed a group of armed men on the roof of a building. Coalition forces called the buildings’ occupants to come out, and the individuals on the roof began to reach for their weapons. Coalition forces again issued verbal warnings and the men did not comply. Perceiving a hostile threat, the ground force engaged the armed men, killing seven terrorists. Surveillance elements led Coalition forces to a follow-on location, where they detained a suspect who left the target building prior to the engagement.
Also in Baghdad, Coalition forces captured one wanted individual while conducting an operation to further disrupt the greater Baghdad foreign terrorist facilitation network. The suspect is allegedly the courier for the southern belt and is involved in facilitating finances to support terrorist operations in the region.
Near Yusufiyah, Coalition forces killed four terrorists, including an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq believed to be a foreign terrorist facilitator in the southern belt. The wanted terrorist was also alleged to have close ties to Abu Usama al-Tunisi, the former emir of the region who was killed during an operation Sept. 25. As Coalition forces approached the target area, they observed four armed men, two of whom were wearing military-style assault vests, maneuver away from the target building. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged, killing them. In addition to the military-style assault vests, the ground force discovered several rifles, grenades and a backpack with explosive material.
Coalition forces killed one terrorist in Kirkuk while targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq foreign terrorist facilitator operating in the al Tamim province. When Coalition forces called for the target buildings’ occupants to come out, three men fled the building refusing to comply with instructions. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground forces engaged, killing one terrorist. One of the individuals was followed to a nearby house, where the owner identified him and he was detained.
In Samarra, Coalition forces conducted an operation to deny sanctuary to al-Qaeda in Iraq and captured a wanted terrorist who identified himself to the ground force.
Ground, helicopters team to kill 3 extremists during raid
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Attack helicopter pilots, supporting Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, killed three extremists and wounded two others during an air assault into a suspected enemy sanctuary the night of Oct. 3 near Al-Bawi.
Soldiers from Company A conducted the raid to disrupt insurgent activity along the Tigris River north of Salman Pak. An attack aviation element from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade provided aerial support with two AH-64 Apaches, while the 4th Battalion, 3rd CAB provided helicopters to move the Company A Soldiers to their target.
While Company A Soldiers were clearing three groups of houses, pilots from 1-3rd CAB identified five armed individuals moving toward the Company A Soldiers.
The 1-3rd CAB pilots were able to kill three during their initial engagement and the Company A Soldiers later detained two individuals.
B-roll of an air weapons team from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade engaging five armed individuals moving toward 1-15 Inf. Regt. Soldiers is now available by accessing the DVIDS Web site.
