Good News From The War On Terror 11/28
Iraqi Police find massive weapons cache in southern Ninevah
QAYYARAH, Iraq – Iraqi Police from Qayyarah discovered a large weapons cache in Kredi, located approximately 13 kilometers southwest of Qayyarah, Nov. 25 while conducting operations based on a tip from a Concerned Local Citizen.
The IPs discovered seven 82mm Iranian mortars and a fully functional suicide vest.
In addition, they discovered over 130 Russian 57mm rockets; over 60 Russian, Chinese, Yugoslavian and South African mortar rounds of assorted sizes; over 230 assorted high explosive and fragmentation hand grenades; approximately 70 Russian anti-personnel landmines; 100 various types of rocket-propelled grenades with motors; 150 pounds of unknown bulk explosives; and an assortment of propellant, detonator cord, grenade fuses, and bomb-making accessories – to include – four empty metal box bombs.
“This is a significant find by the Iraqi Police that will hurt the terrorists’ ability to launch future attacks that are intended to injure and kill Iraqi citizens and the Iraqi Security Forces,” said Lt. Col. Robert McLaughlin, commander of the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
“The Iraqi citizens need to continue to come forward by calling in tips; it’s these tips that are instrumental in helping the Iraqi Security Forces capture and kill the enemy fighters and eliminate the weapons and explosives that are being used to hinder the Iraqi infrastructural rebuilding process.”
Iraqi Police officers consolidated the usable ammunition and RPGs into their unit armory, while Coalition Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists destroyed all of the remaining munitions – to include the suicide vest – in a controlled detonation to prevent future use by enemy fighters.
BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a suspected terrorist cell leader and two other suspected insurgents in two separate operations in Tikrit and Al Saker Nov. 26.
In the village of Al Saker, 5th Iraqi Army Division and U.S. Forces detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq terror cell leader and a second terrorist suspect in a raid on an AQI safe house.
The terrorist cell is believed to be responsible for kidnapping and assassinations along with the construction and emplacement of improvised explosive devices.
During a separate operation in Tikrit, Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Special Forces detained a suspected terrorist believed to be involved in several kidnappings, IED, mortar, rocket propelled grenade, and car bomb attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
UPDATE: Coalition forces positively identify terrorists killed in recent raids
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Three terrorists killed during two recent operations have been positively identified as Abu Tiba, Abu Harith and Abu Nahr.
Abu Tiba, also known as Talal Abd al Aziz or Captain Talal, was the leader of a terrorist network operating in Samarra. Tiba assumed command of the network after the previous leader, Haythim Sabah al-Badri, was promoted to oversee terrorists operating in the Salah ad Din province. Al-Badri was killed during a Coalition forces operation east of Samarra Aug. 2.
Tiba was involved in extortion, kidnappings, planting improvised explosive devices, the movement of foreign terrorists and conducting attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces, and Iraqi police.
Tiba was killed during an operation east of Samarra Nov. 12. Coalition forces were targeting an al-Qaeda headquarters believed to be used as a safe house for foreign terrorists. As the ground force entered the target building, Tiba reached for a suicide vest. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged and killed him before the vest detonated.
Abu Harith, also known Abu Tariq, was a legacy al-Qaeda in Iraq member, most recently operating as the leader of a terrorist network in Kirkuk. Harith had numerous connections to senior terrorist leaders in Mosul and frequently made trips there to coordinate al-Qaeda activities for his network.
Abu Nahr was a member of a car-bombing network in Kirkuk. Nahr was responsible for coordinating numerous attacks against Iraq and Coalition forces and was believed to be acting as Harith’s deputy in the Kirkuk network.
Harith and Nahr were killed during an operation north of Hawija Nov. 21. The ground force called for the target building’s occupants to come out and they did not comply. The individuals attempted to draw their weapons and, perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged, killing Harith and Nahr.
BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured three known al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists Nov. 27 during an operation in western Baghdad.
Iraqi and U.S. Forces conducted the raid to capture three terrorists and disrupt the activities of an AQI cell operating in the Ameriya area. The cell is reported to conduct improvised explosive device, rocket and small-arms fire attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces. The terrorists are believed to be responsible for launching Katyusha rockets against Baghdad International Airport and are linked to attacks against Iraqi Forces and the murder of Iraqi civilians.
During the course of operations, an Iraqi man exited a targeted residence and began to move toward ground forces. He ignored several verbal and visual signals to stop while continuing forward movement. He was shot and killed by a security element after displaying hostile intent by refusing to stop and was observed tugging at his clothing as if to detonate a suicide vest IED.
The three targeted terrorists were captured without further incident.
In a separate operation, Iraqi Special Operations Forces and U.S. Special Forces captured a suspected extremist cell leader in Baghdad. The suspect is reportedly involved in the purchase and trafficking of weapons used in attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
Twelve detained as Coalition forces target al-Qaeda terrorist operations
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 12 suspects Tuesday and Wednesday during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition forces captured a wanted individual in Mosul believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader with numerous connections to terrorist operations. Reports indicate the wanted individual, who allegedly receives foreign funding, was actively involved in murdering and intimidating Iraqi police, hijacking fuel trucks, manufacturing car-bombs and using improvised explosive devices against Coalition forces. During the operation, an improvised explosive device detonated near one of the ground force’s vehicles, but no injuries were reported. The wanted individual identified himself to Coalition forces and was subsequently detained.
During an operation south of Baqubah, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual who is allegedly an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in Khan Bani Sa’ad and associated with several other al-Qaeda leaders in the Diyala area. The wanted individual identified himself to the ground force and subsequently was detained, along with one suspect.
Coalition forces captured another wanted individual during operations south of Baghdad. The wanted individual is believed to be a weapons and foreign terrorist facilitator in the region with numerous ties to foreign terrorists.During operations Tuesday, Coalition forces detained eight suspects while targeting terrorists believed to be associates of foreign terrorists and al-Qaeda in Iraq planners and financiers, and suspected of being responsible for attacks against Coalition and Iraqi security forces.
