Good News From The War On Terror 11/3-4
Large weapons cache located by Concerned Local Citizens
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Concerned Local Citizens found a large cache in Arab Jabour Nov. 1.
The CLCs told Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division about the cache site.
Soldiers investigated the site and discovered three barrels buried in the ground containing rocket-propelled grenade rounds, mortars and various munitions.
The items found included eight 60mm mortars, two 82mm mortars, 25 OG-7 RPG projectiles, three RPG-7 propellant sticks, one RPG sight, an unknown sight, 3,000 14.5mm rounds, 200 7.62mm rounds, one AK-47, one 14.5mm gun barrel and receiver, one RPK light machine gun, three hand grenades, 15 fuses and 15 pounds of C-4 explosive.
Tip leads Iraqi National Police to cache
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Based off a tip from a concerned citizen, officers with the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi National Police Division recovered a cache in the courtyard and surrounding areas of the al Mustafa mosque in the Mualameen neighborhood of eastern Baghdad Nov. 1.
The cache included two explosively-formed penetrators, eight rocket-propelled grenades, three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, seven rocket-propelled grenade motors, three rockets, 14 mortars, one sniper rifle with a scope and a 10-round magazine. A spool of wire, body armor and old Iraqi Army uniforms were also recovered.
Iraqi Army detains al-Qaeda-linked terrorists upon Mosque entry
BAGHDAD — Elements of the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division entered the Abu Hanifa Mosque in the eastern Adhamiyah neighorhood of the Iraqi capital in an early morning operation and detained 12 individuals, including two known terrorists who were using the mosque as a base.
The captured terrorists are suspected of improvised explosive device emplacement, kidnapping, murder of Iraqi civilians and attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces throughout Baghdad.
They are also known to have links with al-Qaeda, said Capt. Phillip Dow, a staff officer with the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, the U.S. unit responsible for security in the area.
The operation was a result of tips received from local citizens.
After concerned residents relayed the information that the terrorists were inside the mosque, the Iraqi Army moved in, backed by U.S. Soldiers from the 3-7 Cav., 2nd BCT, 82 Abn Div., who secured the perimeter.
After requesting proper permission to enter the mosque compound, the Iraqi Army element came under fire inside the building and had to return fire, wounding one of the insurgents. Iraqi Army troops pursued the attackers throughout the mosque compound, eventually detaining the 12 insurgents.
Dragon Talon II: Troops detain five suspected extremists
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers detained five suspected extremists during ongoing operations in the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital Nov. 2.
Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 77th Armored Regiment, part of Task Force Vanguard, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, raided two homes after receiving tips of the possible location of two individuals believed to be involved in weapons trafficking, attacks against Coalition Forces and murdering translators. The troops captured both suspects.
Later that morning, “Warriors” from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4th IBCT, captured a man positively identified by two sources as a planter of improvised explosive devices.
During a patrol a few hours later, the “Warriors” detained a man suspected of attacking MND-B troops with small arms and IEDs. Fifteen minutes later, another man, who allegedly led IED attacks, was detained by the Soldiers of Co. C. during a raid of a house in the Doura region.
All five suspects were taken into custody and are being held for further questioning.
Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda networks; one killed, 23 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 23 suspects during four coordinated operations Sunday targeting al-Qaeda networks in central Iraq.
During the first of four operations in Tarmiyah, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual reportedly associated with several al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders believed to be actively involved with extortion and kidnapping in the northern belt. The individual, who identified himself to Coalition forces, is believed to be the brother of an al-Qaeda in Iraq military leader.
In one of the operations, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual also believed to be associated with terrorist leaders and involved in facilitating meetings within the network. During the operation, the ground force called for the target building’s occupants to come out. One man did not comply with instructions and warnings. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged the man with small arms fire, killing the terrorist. As Coalition forces secured the area, three additional suspected terrorists were detained without incident. The wanted individual in custody identified himself to Coalition forces.
Also in Tarmiyah, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during operations targeting associates of terrorist leaders in the northern belt. During these operations, Coalition forces detained 17 suspected terrorists without incident. The wanted individual in custody identified himself to Coalition forces and is allegedly a long-time member of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
One killed, eight detained as Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda operations
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed one terrorist, wounded one and detained eight suspects during operations Saturday and Sunday targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
North of Sharqat, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an associate of the former al-Qaeda in Iraq leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed during a Coalition force operation in June 2006. The wanted individual allegedly has ties to numerous foreign terrorist facilitators and al-Qaeda in Iraq leadership operating throughout the Tigris River Valley. As the ground force arrived at the target area, the individual identified himself to the ground forces and was subsequently detained.
Coalition forces conducted an operation in Tikrit targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader allegedly involved in weapons facilitation, mortar training, improvised explosive device emplacement and facilitating funds from outside of Iraq. The targeted individual is believed to have ties to terrorist networks in Haditha and is allegedly a subordinate of the leader for the al-Qaeda network operating in the Salah Ad Din province. During the operation, Coalition forces detained seven suspects without incident.
In Kirkuk, Coalition forces killed one terrorist and wounded another in an operation Saturday targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader believed to be in charge of vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks in Baghdad. Reports indicate he was responsible for the suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack that destroyed the Taji Bridge, which killed at least 10 Iraqi civilians and wounded six Aug. 14. The wanted individual was allegedly a close associate of Abu Ibrahim Al Falahi, who was killed by Coalition forces in an operation Aug. 20.
During the operation, Coalition forces approached the target area and fired warning shots. Two suspected terrorists did not comply with instructions. Perceiving hostile intent, the assault force engaged the terrorists by direct fire, killing one and wounding another. Coalition forces administered medical treatment on site and transported the wounded individual to a military medical facility.
Concerned Local Citizens find large cache in Hawr Rajab
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Concerned Local Citizens in Hawr Rajab reported a large improvised explosive device cache to Coalition Forces at Entry Control Point 20, a patrol base in the area Oct. 31.
The cache consisted of 34 83mm mortar rounds and 72 57mm rounds. All of the rounds were filled with homemade explosives and primed with detonation cords.
The rounds would likely have been used as IEDs for dismounted patrols and mortar attacks against Coalition Forces.
ANSF kill senior enemy leader – Abdul Manan
KHOST, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces killed a top-ranking enemy commander, identified as Malawi Abdul Manan, along with several other enemy fighters in Khost Province Oct. 28.
ANSF units spotted 12 enemy fighters attempting to infiltrate from Pakistan near a border check-point in the Spira District. They set up an ambush, engaged the fighters with small-arms fire and killed several, including the infamous Abdul Manan.
In addition to leading a large contingent of militants, Manan was also responsible for the movement of both insurgent fighters and weapons smuggling across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. His death will seriously hamper the enemy’s organization and operations as there is no known successor.
Originally from Kandahar Province, Abdul Manan later became the senior Haqqani commander of enemy fighters in the Paktia, Paktika and Khost Provinces of eastern Afghanistan and was compared to the late Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah Lang, killed by Afghan and Coalition forces in May, for his span of control, influence and corruption.
Taliban commander positively identified
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – A suspected militant detained Sept. 22 in an Afghan and Coalition operation in Ghazni Province has been positively identified as the former Andar District Taliban commander Rahmatullah.
According to intelligence sources, Rahmatullah was the Taliban commander of Andar District in Ghazni Province.
During his detention, Rahmatullah stated through a translator he “facilitated the travel of suicide bombers in the district to be used to target Coalition or Afghan forces.” He further admitted to receiving IED parts, remote detonators and suicide vests from a militant facilitator operating out of Miram Shah, Pakistan.
ANSF, Coalition forces repel enemy attack in Oruzgan province
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces thwarted an attack by extremist Taliban fighters outside of a Coalition forces’ base in Oruzgan province Nov. 2.
The insurgents fired 82mm mortars this morning that narrowly missed the firebase. Shortly thereafter, the heavily defended firebase was notified that several enemy fighters were moving to a defensive position near the base.
The enemy fighters attacked using small-arms, machine gun and 82mm mortars in the late morning attack. The ANSF and Coalition forces returned fire and maneuvered against the enemy forces. Enemy forces continued their attack and attempted to reinforce their positions with additional fighters. Coalition aircraft, under the direction of the Coalition ground force, engaged the fighters and repelled the attack.
Combined forces work to disrupt militant recruiting operations
Nov. 2 airpower summary: Strike Eagles support combat operations
