Good News From The War On Terror 11/18-19
Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda foreign terrorist and propaganda operations; 27 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 27 suspects today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition forces captured three wanted individuals during operations in Baghdad while targeting foreign terrorist and weapons facilitators. Reports indicate al-Qaeda in Iraq members were trying to establish a foreign terrorist network in the city. In addition to the wanted individuals, Coalition forces detained four suspects without incident.
In Bayji, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in the city, who is also associated with foreign terrorists. Coalition forces detained one other suspect during the operation.
During continued operations targeting foreign terrorist facilitators, Coalition forces detained seven suspects in Mosul without incident.
In a series of coordinated operations around Samarra and Baghdad, Coalition forces captured one wanted individual and detained 10 other suspects while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq's media network. During one of the operations, Coalition forces found two sets of homemade body armor vests and two sets of armor plates, which they safely destroyed to prevent further use by terrorists.
Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain two extremists in As Sa’diyah
BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Army Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two suspected extremists and killed one extremist in a cordon and search operation Nov. 16 in As Sa’diyah.
The operation was conducted to counter increased activity by al-Qaeda in Iraq in the area, including small-arms fire attacks, multiple car-bomb, suicide-vest and other improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi Army checkpoints.
During the operation, the Iraqi Forces establishing the cordon were attacked, resulting in the death of one Iraqi Soldier and the wounding of another. An aerial weapons team identified and engaged the enemy responsible for the attack, resulting in one enemy killed.
No U.S. forces were injured.
In a separate operation Nov. 16, Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Special Forces detained an alleged extremist during a raid targeting extremist activity in Diwaniyah.
The detainee is believed to belong to an extremist group responsible for selling weapons and murdering Iraqi Army Soldiers.
Coalition forces find execution site, large cache; eight killed, 13 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists, detained 13 suspects and found an alleged execution site, torture room and 16 weapons caches between Nov. 6 and 10 during a multi-day operation in the Diyala River Valley.
Nov. 7, Coalition forces observed several armed men maneuvering away from their location. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force called for supporting aircraft to engage the armed men, killing five terrorists. The ground force discovered a small cache of AK-47s, a pistol, grenade and ammunition at the suspects location. Later that day in two separate areas, Coalition forces were engaged by armed men. Responding in self-defense, the ground force engaged the armed men, killing three terrorists. Coalition forces also detained 13 suspects during the four-day operation.
During operations Nov. 9, Coalition forces discovered what appeared to be an execution site. As they cleared the area they found the remains of approximately five individuals, as well as several 9mm casings believed to be used in the executions.
Over the course of the multi-day operation, Coalition forces located and destroyed 16 weapons caches to include: 13 complete anti-aircraft weapons, mounts, rounds and equipment; a World War II-era Russian T34 Cannon; 24 TOW missiles; 14 Saggar missiles; anti-personnel mines; 40 NBC masks; several machine guns and mounts; three jugs of homemade explosives; 10 anti-personnel mines; 35,200 feet of detention cord; one 25-pound bag of ammonium nitrate; several dozen mortars, tubs, fins, fuses and rounds; rifles; grenades and rocket propelled-grenades; ammunition; improvised explosive device-making materials; and two military-style vests. Two of the anti-aircraft weapons systems were found welded to the bed of a truck.
The ground force also discovered several buildings used for terrorist operations to include an alleged torture facility complete with chains, shackles, heavy-duty locks similar to those found in detention cell bunkers, windows cemented closed, terrorist propaganda materials, and kerosene heaters. Coalition forces found another building they believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq safe house containing additional terrorist propaganda and an alleged terrorist medical clinic with supplies, weapons and a hidden compartment in the floor.
Nearby, they discovered what appeared to be a building used to create false IDs, complete with numerous ID-making materials and a small media cache. Reports indicate several of the rooms, including the torture room were recently inhabited. Coalition forces also found an improvised explosive device making facility inside one of the buildings, with numerous cylinders, tanks, tubes and car parts believed to be used in the production of IEDs. The ground force called for supporting aircraft to conduct an air strike to safely destroy the building to prevent further use by terrorists.
Coalition forces capture senior criminal element leader, disrupt terrorist network (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected senior Special Groups leader and detained another suspected criminal during operations late Sunday near Baghdad, in the Adhamiyah area.
The targeted individual was reportedly responsible for smuggling and storing weapons used in attacks against Coalition forces, and supported Special Groups criminal elements through funding and training. The suspected criminal was also reportedly an associate of several other senior-level Special Groups members from Diyala to Baghdad who were involved in attacks on Coalition forces.
Nov. 17 airpower summary: A-10s fly CAS missions
