Good News From The War On Terror 11/1-2
Coalition forces disrupt terrorist operations targeting senior leadership
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed an estimated 14 terrorists and detained 25 suspects during operations Wednesday and early Thursday targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
On Wednesday in Kirkuk, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual reported to be a senior leader for al-Qaeda in Iraq, along with two suspected criminals. Intelligence indicates this individual has several ties to senior leadership, including Abu Ayyub al-Masri.
Intelligence gained from previous operations led Coalition forces northwest of Baqubah where they targeted an individual believed to be a senior leader for the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in Hib Hib. This area has been reported to be a significant al-Qaeda in Iraq safe haven on the outskirts of Al Khalis.
During the operation, Coalition forces began to secure the area and observed a group of armed men maneuvering into nearby palm groves. The ground force called for the men to come out, but they did not comply. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged with small arms fire, killing two terrorists. Still receiving fire, Coalition forces called for air support, killing an estimated ten additional terrorists by direct fire. Thirteen suspects were also detained during the operation.
Southeast of Fallujah, Coalition forces targeted an individual believed to be an associate of numerous senior al-Qaeda in Iraq members. Reports indicate the targeted individual has a history of involvement with al-Qaeda in Iraq and is believed to have been a senior leader for the terrorist network operating in the Radwaniyah area.
As Coalition forces arrived on scene, they called for the occupants to come out of one of the buildings in the target area. Meanwhile, Coalition troops received enemy fire from an adjacent building. As ground forces entered that building, a terrorist wearing a suicide vest detonated it, killing himself and one other terrorist while also destroying the building. No Coalition forces were injured in the explosion.
The ground forces then secured the area and discovered a small weapons cache, which was safely destroyed on-site. Coalition forces detained another nine suspects during the operation.
Coalition forces target foreign terrorist facilitators, 12 suspects detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 12 suspects during operations early Thursday targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
Surveillance elements led Coalition forces to a location in Mosul, where they captured a wanted individual and three suspected terrorists. The wanted individual is reportedly an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq members involved in foreign terrorist facilitation, to include one who was captured in a previous Coalition forces operation in Bayji Oct. 26. Reports indicate one of the suspect’s associates, a senior facilitator currently residing outside of Iraq, is attempting to communicate with terrorist leaders in the country. During the operation, the wanted individual was identified by his wife and detained without incident.
West of Ramadi, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be involved in a foreign terrorist facilitation network that channels extremists into Iraq. The wanted individual is allegedly a close associate of numerous foreign-based terrorists responsible for facilitating funds and weapons for al-Qaeda operations. In addition to the targeted individual, Coalition forces detained another five suspects during the operation.
In Tikrit, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an alleged associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader also involved in foreign terrorist facilitation. The targeted individual is believed to have ties to several foreign-based facilitators who may have recently entered the country. The ground force detained two suspected terrorists during the operation.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – A large cache consisting of explosives was discovered and destroyed in Arab Jabour Oct. 30.
Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division discovered the cache while searching a field where a previous cache was discovered.
The cache consisted of 125 hand grenades and 100 rifle grenades.
An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in and conducted a controlled detonation.
Coalition Forces discover large cache near Turki village
BAQOUBAH, Iraq – Coalition Forces discovered a large weapons cache while conducting a search near the Turki village area south of Balad Ruz Oct. 29.
The weapons cache included more than 20 rocket-propelled grenades, about five RPG launchers, approximately 10 60mm mortar rounds, a mortar base plate, two anti-personnel mines, three hand grenades, about 20 blasting caps and other improvised-explosive device making material.
The cache was located in an area where a previous cache had been discovered.
A CF explosive ordnance disposal unit conducted a controlled detonation to destroy the cache items.
Joint Operation reduces al Qaeda’s supply base
MUQDADIYA, Iraq – Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces conducted a joint operation to clear the Muqdadiya area and return the town to its peaceful citizens. The operation resulted in the discovery of 10 weapons caches and two suspected terrorists Oct. 30.
The caches consisted of a variety of 60mm and 155mm mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenade warheads, improvised explosive device materials such as copper wire and blasting caps, small-arms munitions, and a list of names al Qaeda paid to kill Coalition Forces.
An explosive ordnance disposal unit cleared the area and destroyed the cache on site, and the two detainees were transferred to a detention facility for further questioning.
Elsewhere in Diyala, the Iraqi Border Police partnered with Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, attached to 3rd BCT, 1st Cav. Div., discovered a cache containing more than 40 assorted mortar rounds, two RPG warheads and four tank rounds in a farmer’s field in Tursaq. The Border Police secured the site and destroyed the cache.
Also, while conducting a patrol northeast of Mandali, the Border Transition Team discovered a cache of approximately 20 anti-personnel mines and approximately 60 mortar rounds, all of which were destroyed by an EOD team.
Apaches destroy anti-aircraft weapon
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – Combat Aviation Brigade pilots flying south of Baghdad destroyed an anti-aircraft weapon Nov. 1.
The Apache pilots, members of 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd CAB, 3rd Infantry Division, spotted two suspected insurgents walking away from the weapon, which had been covered by a tarp. The pilots destroyed the weapon with a Hellfire missile.
Coalition forces disrupt terrorist operations; 10 killed, three detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed 10 terrorists and detained three suspects during operations Friday targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
Southeast of Baghdad in Salman Pak, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an alleged foreign terrorist facilitator with ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq senior members operating in the Arab Jabour area. Reports indicate the individual is also associated with several foreign terrorist facilitators operating outside of Iraq, and an al-Qaeda in Iraq member who claims involvement in attacks against Coalition forces.
The ground force was engaged by small arms fire as they approached the target building. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces engaged the terrorists and called for supporting aircraft to help suppress the enemy fire. The ground force observed multiple secondary explosions from one of the buildings when it was engaged by Coalition aircraft, indicating explosives may have been inside. The ground force continued to be engaged by enemy fire from several individuals who emerged from the target area, so supporting aircraft was requested, which engaged this hostile threat. When the enemy fire ceased, Coalition forces found that 10 terrorists had been killed. Two of the terrorists two were armed with suicide vests.
As Coalition forces secured the area, they discovered a small weapons cache, which included several suicide vests, heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft artillery. The building, including the small weapons cache, was safely destroyed to prevent further use by terrorists.
In another operation, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual and one other suspect near Shaqat. The wanted individual is believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader responsible for facilitating communications from terrorist members to the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader, Abu Ayyub al-Masri. The wanted individual was allegedly the replacement for Sabah Hilal al-Shihawi, the radical religious advisor for the self-proclaimed Minister of Information for al-Qaeda in Iraq, Muharib Abdul Latif, both of whom were killed during a Coalition forces operation May 1.
In Kirkuk, one suspect was detained during an operation targeting a leader of the al-Qaeda in Iraq suicide bomber network. Reports indicate the targeted individual is responsible for organizing, planning and directing vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks against Iraq citizens in Kirkuk, as well as being a foreign terrorist facilitator associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq and foreign terrorist leaders.
Iraqi citizen leads Coalition Forces to EFP factory
HUSSEINIYAH, Iraq – A citizen of Husseiniyah led Coalition Forces to a building where explosively formed penetrators and improvised explosive devices were being constructed Oct. 31.
Soldiers of Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., discovered a large cache of explosives at the home, including about 10 fully assembled EFPs of various sizes including one 12-inch EFP – the largest found in Iraq – approximately 90 copper plates of various sizes, more than 200 pounds of C-4 explosive, other explosive materials including TNT and numerous other materials used in manufacturing EFPs.
On Oct. 23, another 4-2 SBCT unit discovered the largest EFP cache ever found in Iraq in Sa’ada village, near Khan Bani Sa’ad, Iraq.
That cache included over 120 fully assembled EFPs, over 150 copper disks, 600-plus pounds of C4 and other explosive materials, about 100 mortar rounds of various caliber, more than 30 107mm rockets, two mortar tubes and about 20 claymore-type mines.
ANSF, Coalition forces continue to neutralize Taliban insurgents
Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan- Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces engaged and killed several Taliban fighters near the Tarin Kowt District of Oruzgan Province today.
The combined force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol to protect the establishment of an Afghan security checkpoint when they surprised Taliban fighters setting up mortar positions. ANSF and Coalition forces engaged these fighters, killing several Taliban insurgents and causing the remaining enemy fighters to flee.
Oct. 31 airpower summary: A-10s support ground troops
