Good News From The War On Terror 11/15
Coalition forces disrupt senior al-Qaeda operations; 25 killed, 21 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed 25 suspected terrorists and detained 21 suspects, four of whom were wounded, late Tuesday and early Wednesday during operations targeting senior terrorist leaders in central Iraq.
During a series of coordinated operations west of Tarmiyah, Coalition forces targeted associates of senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders believed to be in the area.
Coalition forces observed several armed men in the target area and, perceiving hostile intent, called for supporting aircraft to engage.
The supporting aircraft fired on the target, but intelligence reports indicated the men unloaded an anti-aircraft weapon from the target and moved to a secondary location.
The ground force engaged the armed men, killing one, wounding another and detaining one suspect.
Upon securing the area, the ground force found a weapons cache, to include anti-aircraft weapons and artillery.
Supporting aircraft was used to safely destroy an associated building, vehicle and site believed to be used for anti-aircraft attacks against Coalition forces.
The ground force also followed suspects from the initial meeting to several buildings in the area.
As Coalition forces approached the target areas, they were engaged by enemy fire from both locations.
Responding in self-defense, ground forces called for supporting aircraft to engage, killing 24 and wounding three.
As the ground forces secured the areas, they found two substantially large weapons caches, which were safely destroyed by supporting aircraft to prevent further use by terrorists.
The caches included numerous anti-aircraft machine guns, surface-to-surface missiles, rifles, pistols, grenades, mortar rounds and artillery shells.
Coalition forces also found a large quantity of ammunition and components used to manufacture improvised explosive devices.
Coalition forces also detained 16 suspects at the two locations.
Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police detain 12, discover caches, car bomb factory
TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Army and Police units involved in Operation Iron Hammer discovered caches containing more than 2,900 liters of nitric acid, a car bomb factory and more than 340 mortar and artillery rounds of various caliber in addition to large quantities of military equipment in the al Jazeera desert, Western Salah ad Din Province, Iraq, Nov. 10.
The caches, discovered by 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, also contained four DSHKA anti-aircraft machine guns with more than 13,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 1,000 47mm anti-aircraft rounds, 32 anti-tank mines, detonation cord and small arms with ammunition. Iraqi Police detained 12 men for al-Qaeda related activities.
In addition to arms, the car bomb factory contained seven vehicles, welding equipment and auto parts to reinforce suspensions and heavy duty struts, which enable vehicles to carry increased loads. Two 36,000 gallon capacity fuel tankers used to transport black market fuel were also discovered.
Coalition forces detain 10 suspects during operations targeting al-Qaeda
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 10 suspects Thursday during operations targeting terrorist networks in central Iraq.
Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during operations targeting associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq members and those believed to be involved in the courier network. The ground force detained the wanted individual and one suspect without incident.
In other operations in central Iraq, Coalition forces detained eight suspects during operations targeting foreign terrorist and weapons facilitators, couriers and associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders familiar with the northern belt. A small weapons cache was found during one of the operations, and it was safely destroyed by the ground force to prevent further use by terrorists.
Several militants killed, seven detained during Helmand Province operation
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Several militants were killed and seven more detained during a Coalition forces’ operation Wednesday in Helmand Province to disrupt foreign fighter and militant weapons facilitator operations.
During a search of compounds in the Garmser District, Coalition forces encountered armed militants in multiple buildings on the compounds. Coalition forces responded with a combination of small-arms fire; accurate, conventional munitions and precision-guided munitions killing several militants during the engagement.
Continuing their search of the compounds, Coalition forces found and detained seven individuals, who intelligence sources indicated as having possible connections to foreign fighter and weapons facilitators in the area.
One individual sustained a non-life threatening injury while resisting detention. Coalition forces treated the detainee’s injury on-site and transported him to a medical facility for possible follow-on medical care said Maj. Belcher.
The detained individuals will be questioned as to their involvement with facilitation operations as well as other extremist activities.
Coalition forces also recovered several weapons and associated ammunition that were destroyed to prevent further use by extremist forces.
