Good News From The War On Terror 11/16-17
Coalition forces target al-Qaeda networks; two terrorists killed, 12 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 12 suspects Friday during operations targeting terrorist networks in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition forces captured a wanted individual southeast of Baghdad during operations targeting foreign terrorist facilitators in the Southern Belt. Reports also indicate the individual was involved in planning attacks on coalition aircraft.
The ground force approached the target building and called for the occupants to come out, but the individuals did not comply. One of the men was wearing a vest loaded with grenades. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged, killing two of the men. In addition to the wanted individual, Coalition forces detained three other suspects on site.
In other operations in Ramadi, Mosul and Kirkuk, Coalition forces detained eight suspects while targeting associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and those believed to be involved in kidnappings, assassinations and small arms attacks against Iraqi police and Coalition forces.
Coalition forces kill one terrorist, target criminal element networks
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed one terrorist during operations targeting Special Groups criminal elements north of Baghdad, in the Rashidiya area early this morning.
The targeted individual was reportedly a main logistics facilitator for Special Groups in central Iraq, and the chief financial advisor to criminal elements in the Diyala Province. The suspected criminal was also reportedly an associate of several other senior-level splinter group leaders who were involved in attacks on Coalition forces.As ground forces approached the target building, a man exited the building armed with an assault rifle and maneuvered against Coalition forces. Responding in self-defense, ground forces engaged the individual, killing him.
Coalition forces target al-Qaeda networks; six terrorists killed, 10 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 10 suspects today during operations targeting terrorist networks in central and northern Iraq.
During operations northeast of Samarra, Coalition forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq's media and courier networks. Reports indicate the area was used as a propaganda house and is associated with a courier service for senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders. As the ground force approached the target building, armed men inside engaged Coalition forces with heavy fire. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces engaged, killing two terrorists.
During the operation, two of the armed men were seen leaving the first building and maneuvering into a second building. Coalition forces called for the building's occupants to come out, but no one complied. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged the armed men, killing four terrorists. As the ground force secured the buildings, they found three of the terrorists killed were wearing suicide vests, including one that had detonated. They also found a weapons cache, improvised explosive device making materials and a media cache. Coalition forces called for supporting aircraft to safely destroy the two buildings, which were assessed to be structurally unsafe.
Coalition forces also detained three suspects from two other locations during the operations in northeast Samarra. Supporting Coalition aircraft safely destroyed two known al-Qaeda in Iraq safe houses to prevent further use by terrorists.
In Baghdad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during operations targeting foreign terrorist facilitators, couriers and associates of senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders. In addition to the wanted individual, Coalition forces detained five other suspects without incident.
During operations southwest of Kirkuk, Coalition forces detained one suspect while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq. Reports indicate the targeted individual is believed to be planning terrorist attacks in the region and is associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in Mosul.
Former extremist leads joint forces to huge weapons cache
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – A former member of an extremist group led Coalition Forces, Iraqi Army and Concerned Local Citizens to a cache site near southeast of Baghdad in the morning hours, Nov. 13.
The citizen, who reconciled with Iraqi and Coalition troops, knew where the cache was because he helped bury it sometime ago. He said he is now helping Coalition Forces because he is tired of al-Qaeda trying to force him to work with them. He said al-Qaeda imprisoned him and tortured his friends for not joining forces with them.
The Soldiers from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and IA found refrigerators that contained numerous rockets, mortars and ammunition.
Iron Hammer successful in pursuit of al-Qaeda in Iraq (Tikrit)
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division – North Soldiers have made significant progress against al-Qaeda in four provinces in northern Iraq after two weeks of Operation Iron Hammer.
The operation to disrupt al-Qaeda involves three U.S. brigade combat teams and four Iraqi Army divisions.
During the operation, Coalition Forces and ISF have undermined al-Qaeda operations and discovered more than 50 caches across the Multi-National Division-North area of operations. The caches have contained more than 500 mortar and artillery rounds, three tons of homemade explosives, countless IED-making materials, hundreds of anti-tank and personnel mines and more than 100 machine guns.
Beyond the weapons found, CF and ISF discovered various documents and related information material.
CF and ISF have also detained hundreds of suspected al-Qaeda members.
Iraqi Army, volunteers find cache during raid (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD – Members of the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Security Volunteers conducted a raid of the cemetery adjacent to the Abu Hanifa Mosque in Adhamiyah Nov. 16, seizing a cache of weapons hidden in two pits disguised as graves.
Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division provided the outer cordon and explosive ordnance disposal team to support the cache seizure.
The Iraqi Security Forces entered the cemetery based on information provided by the Adhamiyah volunteers. In the two simulated graves, the volunteers led Iraqi Security Forces to seven rocket-propelled grenade launchers, nine RPG rounds, one SKS sniper rifle with scope, one RPK rifle, three PKC assault rifles, nine AK-47 assault rifles, 14 hand grenades, hundreds of rounds of small arms ammunition and various improvised explosive devicemaking items.
Eight suspects captured, cache discovered (Baghdad)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division captured eight suspected extremists and recovered a weapons cache in eastern Baghdad Nov. 15.
Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment found the cache and detained the suspects.
The cache included one RPK machine gun, two AK-47 assault rifles and fifteen AK-47 magazines.
The eight suspects are being held for further questioning.
Nov. 15 airpower summary: Crew chiefs keep missions flying
