Good News From The War On Terror 11/10
Joint operation retakes area from extremists
KALSU, Iraq – Operation Broken Hearts, a combined operation focused on restoring order to the Jabella region which was destroyed by recent sectarian violence, began Oct. 31.
Operation Broken Hearts lasted for three days, and was conducted by Iraqi Security Forces and Paratroopers from Military Transition Team 0820, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.
The ISF conducted raids of extremist locations and worked to establish a neighborhood watch program. During the raids, Iraqi police officers moved into extremist-controlled locations, turning the buildings into front offices for the IPs and allowing the original owners to return.
During the raids, the ISF found a large cache containing 25 60mm mortars, one 60mm mortar tube and base plate, eight 80mm mortars, six 120mm mortars, 30 rocket propel grenades, two grenade bodies, three pistols, four batteries, six battery chargers, five radios, one anti-tank mine, and 30 AK 47s.
Ten suspects detained as Coalition forces target al-Qaeda
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 10 suspects Saturday during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during operations northeast of Baghdad targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq financier. Reports indicate the wanted individual is an associate of senior terrorist leaders in the region, and his sons are believed to be snipers for the terrorist network. Upon entering the target area, Coalition forces called for a building’s occupants to come out and the occupants complied without incident. The ground force found multiple weapons and detained five other suspects on site.
During operations south of Mosul, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a military commander familiar with improvised explosive device attacks and an associate of senior al-Qaeda leadership in the area. As Coalition forces entered the target area, they called for a building’s occupants to come out and they complied. The wanted individual was identified by a family member and a civilian on site, and he was subsequently detained along with one other suspect.
In other operations in the Bayji area, Coalition forces detained two suspects while targeting foreign terrorist facilitators, media networks and al-Qaeda leadership responsible for improvised explosive device attacks in the region.
Tip from Iraqi volunteers leads to cache, rockets
BAGHDAD – A tip from Iraqi volunteers led Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops to find a cache in the Doura region Nov. 8.
Troops from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, “Warriors” from the 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 4th Infantry “Dragon” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div. seized a weapons cache in southern Baghdad’s Doura region after receiving a tip from Iraqi volunteers.
In a mud hut, the Warriors found three rocket-propelled grenades, a ballistic helmet and vest, 200 7.62mm rounds of ammunition, 32 40mm grenades, four mortar rounds and various electrical devices associated with improvised explosive device production.
In West Rashid earlier in the day, “Black Lions” of Company D, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment investigated a site suspected of rocket attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi citizens and found two improvised rocket launchers inside an abandoned vehicle.
Iraqi Police, U.S. Special Forces detain 4 extremists in Samarra
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Police, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained four suspected extremists and recovered several weapons during operations near Samarra Nov. 8.
The raid was conducted after a group of armed individuals were observed manning an unauthorized traffic checkpoint in the area earlier in the day.
Further investigation led Iraqi and U.S. Forces to a site where suspected members of an extremist group were meeting.
During movement to the site, an Iraqi Police emergency action platoon and U.S. Special Forces were engaged by enemy fire coming from two trucks.
The joint force returned fire, destroying one truck. Four extremists were killed by a supporting Air Weapons Team. Along with a platoon from 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, Iraqi Police and U.S. Special Forces were able to secure the objective without further incident.
Iraqi Police and U.S. Special Forces detained three suspected foreign extremist fighters and one suspected Iraqi extremist.
Recovered in the operation were 10 rocket propelled grenades, five RPG-7 launchers, eight improvised mortar tubes, three suicide bomber vests, two DSHKA heavy machine guns and one PKM machine gun.
