Good News From The War On Terror 9/30-

Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain 18 terrorist suspects in Diyala Province

TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained 18 suspected terrorists believed to be linked to the al-Qaeda in Iraq criminal network during a series of raids in the Mandali area of Diyala Province Sept. 29. The operation targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist cell believed to be responsible for kidnappings and murders of Iraqis in the Mandali area, improvised explosive device attacks and weapons smuggling on the Iranian border.  Two of the detainees are suspected high-level al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders. Two weapons caches containing complete mortar systems, blasting caps and charges, land mines, 60mm mortar rounds, 82mm mortar rounds, 120mm mortar rounds, 155mm artillery rounds, rocket propelled grenade launchers, grenades and mortars, seven cases of 7.62mm ammunition and a large amount of copper used for constructing IEDs were destroyed in a controlled detonation. Three vehicles and four motorcycles, which locals identified as being used to commit kidnappings, transfer weapons and explosives, conduct surveillance of Iraqi and U.S. patrol, and conduct IED attacks, were also destroyed.

 

Coalition forces capture 15 suspected Special Groups members

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces detained 15 suspected criminals believed to be Iraqi Special Groups members during a combined operation in Baghdad early Sunday.  Sensitive intelligence led Coalition forces to an area known to be frequented by a suspected senior Special Groups network commander with ties to several other suspected criminals. Intelligence also indicates that he is involved in weapons smuggling throughout Iraq. Ground forces detained 15 suspected criminals at the target location without incident.

 

Iraqi Army engages, kills 7 IED emplacers, discovers cache

TAL’AFAR, Iraq – Soldiers from the 3rd Iraqi Army Division, supported by Coalition helicopters, killed seven unknown enemy fighters after they were observed emplacing an improvised explosive device near a culvert Sept. 25 near Tal’Afar. After positively identifying the group and engaging them, the CF aircraft radioed for an IA patrol to proceed from the ground. As they approached, the IA patrol killed two enemy fighters attempting to flee the culvert IED site. IA soldiers confirmed three additional terrorists were killed in the earlier engagement by CF aircraft.  As the IA soldiers began to investigate the culvert, they repelled an ambush by two enemy fighters, killing both. Upon investigation of the culvert IED site, IA soldiers found a small cache of seven IEDs ready for emplacement with approximately 5-8 pounds of homemade explosives each.

 

Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda network; two killed, 21 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 21 suspected terrorists Saturday and Sunday during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq networks in the Tigris River Valley. In a village southwest of Samarra, Coalition forces conducted several coordinated operations Sunday targeting individuals believed to be close associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader. As Coalition forces approached one of the target areas, an armed individual emerged and maneuvered toward a nearby palm grove. Perceiving a hostile threat, Coalition forces engaged the terrorist, killing him. As the ground force secured the area, another armed man emerged and maneuvered toward them. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces engaged, killing him. Two of the targeted individuals and one suspected terrorist were also detained on site, including one individual who is allegedly responsible for attacks against Coalition forces. During the course of operations, four Iraqi civilians were injured, treated on site and transported to a military medical facility. Nearby, Coalition forces targeted individuals believed to be members of a security network for an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader. During the operations, four of the targeted individuals were captured on site and three other suspected terrorists were detained.   Coalition forces also captured an individual believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq emir responsible for military, administration and financial matters in the village, and to have with ties to senior leadership. In addition to the targeted individual, two suspected terrorists were detained. One suspected terrorist was wounded during the operation when he jumped from a building to evade the ground force.  The suspect was transported to a military medical facility.   In other operations, Coalition forces detained two suspects while targeting an associate to al-Qaeda in Iraq in the Arab Jabour area of Baghdad. In Mosul, Coalition forces captured an associate of several al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders who is believed to have ties to other extremist leaders in the area. The targeted individual identified himself to the ground force and two additional suspects were detained on site. Saturday, Coalition forces detained two additional suspects while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders south of Tikrit.

 

16 detained by Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Operations Forces throughout Iraq

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with U.S. Special Operations Forces as advisers, detained 16 suspected terrorists during three separate intelligence-driven operations Sept. 29 throughout Iraq.  During one operation, Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader and two alleged cell members in Yusafiyah. The al-Qaeda in Iraq cell is believed to be responsible for improvised explosive device and direct fire attacks against Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces.  The group is directly linked to an Aug. 16 IED attack against an Iraqi Army convoy that killed all of the occupants and destroyed a Nissan Pickup.  The group also engaged in firefights Aug. 9 against checkpoints in Yusifiyah.   The cell leader and his members are additionally suspected of two separate IED attacks Aug. 2 and 4 against military forces in the area.   Coalition Forces recovered the two IEDs, but one of them damaged a U.S. Army tactical vehicle.  During a concurrent operation, two suspected criminals were detained in the Baghdad area. One of the criminals, who is believed to be a member of an explosively formed penetrator cell, is suspected of conducting EFP attacks in Shuhida. In a separate operation, Iraqi Army Scouts detained a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader and ten other suspected insurgents in the Samarra area.  The senior leader is believed to be responsible for facilitating the movement of foreign terrorists between Iraq and terrorist training camps in Syria.  He is also suspected of supporting criminal activity in the Al Tash and Dahwa regions of Ramadi.  Nine of the alleged insurgents were detained while the assault force cleared the village and two more were detained as they attempted to flee the target area.  The suspected insurgents are linked to kidnappings, weapons smuggling, establishing illegal checkpoints, foreign terrorist facilitation, and IED and direct fire attacks.

 

1st CAV air assets engage, kill Al Qaeda extremists after receiving RPG, small arms fire

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division-Baghdad air assets engaged more than 20 Al Qaeda insurgents approximately 28 kilometers northwest of Baghdad Sept. 29 after the insurgents fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and small arms at the aircraft. The resulting firefight ended with more than 20 of the Al Qaeda cell members being killed and four of their vehicles being destroyed. Patrolling the skies, aircraft from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division had reported to the scene to observe possible extremist activities in the area based off of a report from local Iraqi Security Volunteers that an Al Qaeda cell was working in the area. Upon arriving to the scene, the aircraft observed about 25 Al Qaeda personnel carrying AK-47 assault rifles, with one of the men brandishing an RPG, and walking through an area of local shops and into a palm grove.  Shortly after spotting the men, the aircraft were fired upon by the insurgent fighters. The incident took place within the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division’s area of operations where Ironhorse troops from the 2nd “Stallion” Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment have been working alongside the Iraqi Security Volunteers and Iraqi Security Forces to root out Al Qaeda operatives and extremists.

 

Sept. 28 airpower summary: maintainers keep airpower soaring