Good News From The War On Terror 12/18
Concerned Local Citizens turn over large cache
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Concerned Local Citizens handed over a large cache to Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment near Al Bawi, Iraq, Dec. 16.
The seizure of the cache came just one day after Company A Soldiers and CLCs cleared the main route into Al Bawi from the north in a combined operation.
“This cache find is another event that proves the Concerned Local Citizens are part of the team and willing to fight the fight to get rid of extremists,” said Maj. John Cushing, from Rochester, Mich., the operations officer for the 1-15th Inf. Regt.
The cache consisted of 100 land mines, two 105 mm projectiles, two 120 mm mortars, two 120 mm projectiles, two 152 mm projectiles, 100 pounds of propellant, 7.62 mm ammunition and an explosively-formed projectile casing.
Soldiers from Company A worked with CLCs to clear the main route into Al Bawi from the north Dec. 13 and 14. During the clearing operation, Soldiers helped the CLCs establish checkpoints along the route from which locals could maintain security in the region. Company A Soldiers were patrolling the newly cleared route and checking on their new partners when CLCs brought the contents of the cache to one of the recently established checkpoints.
Capt. Will Clark, from Wheeling, Ill., the Company A commander, said the route was dominated by al-Qaeda in Iraq elements in the Al Bawi vicinity and the western side of the Tigris River that commonly fired upon the route with small arms and indirect fire assets.
Marne Roundup forces discover, destroy enemy tunnel network
BAGHDAD – A network of underground tunnels used by al-Qaeda in Iraq to store weapons, hide fighters and launch attacks against U.S. forces was discovered and subsequently destroyed by Coalition Forces Dec. 16. It was the first known find of a tunnel system in the Multi-National Division – Center area.
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, found the tunnels as they were searching an area northwest of Iskandariyah, along the Euphrates River. Immediately prior, they discovered a cache of improvised explosive device components and were investigating when the tunnels were unearthed.
The tunnels provided access to numerous al-Qaeda fighting positions. Inside the tunnels were several DSHKA rounds, leading troops to speculate the tunnels may have served as enemy firing positions for anti-aircraft guns, as well as hiding places for AQI fighters after they launched attacks.
Soldiers called in Coalition air teams to destroy the tunnels. After an initial engagement with one Hellfire missile and three rockets, heavier air support was called in, and dropped two bombs on the target, completely collapsing the network.
U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers are in the area as part of Operation Marne Roundup, the latest Coalition offensive to target extremists in MND-C. The operation launched the morning of Dec. 15.
As soon as the area is secured, U.S. troops will begin construction of a new security outpost, Patrol Base Khidr.
Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain extremist leader and corrupt officer in separate operations
BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained an extremist criminal leader and a corrupt Iraqi Police official believed to support terrorist activities in two separate raids Dec. 13.
In Baghdad, Iraqi and U.S. Special Forces detained a suspected extremist believed to be responsible for improvised explosive device and explosively formed penetrator attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. He is also thought to be involved in the targeting of Coalition informants for attack.
In As Sadiyah, Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Special Forces detained an Iraqi Police Captain suspected of corruption. The detainee is believed to support al-Qaeda in Iraq activities by facilitating early warning and intelligence operations for the terrorist organization.
Coalition forces target foreign terrorist facilitators; seven detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained seven suspected terrorists during operations Tuesday targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
During an operation in Bayji, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual allegedly involved in a foreign terrorist facilitation network in the area. The wanted individual is reportedly a close associate of several senior facilitators, to include one who was detained Dec. 10 for providing supplies and finances for use in attacks against Coalition forces. In addition to the wanted individual, two suspected terrorists were detained on site.
Coalition forces captured another wanted individual involved in foreign terrorist facilitation during an operation in Mosul. Reports indicate he is tied to numerous senior terrorists, including an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for the network north of Mosul. The individual identified himself to the ground force and was subsequently detained.
East of Samarra, three suspected terrorists were detained during an operation targeting al-Qaeda members associated with the network in Salah ad Din.
Coalition forces capture Special Groups leader, 12 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected Special Groups leader and detained 11 other suspects during operations early today in the Aziziyah area, southeast of Baghdad.
The targeted individual reportedly received special weapons training in order to train Special Group criminal element members for attacks on Iraqi and Coalition forces. He is believed to have specialized in mortar and rocket attacks. The wanted suspect was also reportedly an associate of several other senior-level criminal element leaders who were involved in attacks on Coalition forces.Intelligence led ground forces to the target area where they captured the targeted individual and detained the 11 other suspected criminals without incident.
Several militants killed during Afghan, Coalition forces operations in Helmand
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Several militants were killed during a precision-guided munitions strike Monday in Helmand Province targeting a Taliban command and control network.
Coalition forces conducted a precision-guided munitions strike in the Kajaki District of Helmand Province targeting a Taliban commander believed to be facilitating the movement of foreign fighters and suicide bombers throughout the area.
During the course of operations, Coalition forces targeted several militants outside a compound and employed precision-guided munitions, which killed the militants, including one militant reported to be a Taliban commander.
In a follow-on operation, Afghan and Coalition forces conducted a search of compounds in the Kajaki District of Helmand Province for individuals reported to be associated with the militants targeted during the strike.
While conducting the operation, Afghan and Coalition forces, using small-arms, killed several armed militants who posed a credible threat to the combined force. During a subsequent engagement on the compound, the combined force was fired upon by a group of militants barricaded in a building. The combined force employed grenades, killing the militants barricaded inside.
There were no immediate indications of injuries or deaths to civilians not taking part in hostilities.
Continuing their search of the compounds, the combined force recovered several weapons and explosives, which were destroyed in-place to prevent further use by extremist forces.
ANSF stop insurgents placing IEDs in Kandahar Province
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces, along with Coalition forces, neutralized a group of insurgents yesterday who were in the process of placing an improvised explosive device on a road near the village of Pada, Shah Wali Kot District, Kandahar Province.
An Afghan National Army unit immediately responded when it observed a group of five insurgents placing the IED along the side of the road. Upon receiving accurate, effective fire from ANA and Coalition force units, the insurgents immediately sought cover. ANSF called for air support and dropped ordnance on the suspected IED location. A secondary explosion, caused by the detonation of the IED, confirmed the weapon was set to injure or kill ANSF or civilians in the area who use the road between the villages of Lwar Byal, Hotak and Alekozi. Insurgents were killed in the explosion.
After ANSF cleared the area, they continued their reconnaissance patrol, discovering four additional roadside IEDs. ANSF quickly neutralized the IEDs, making the area safe for residents in the area.
ANSF eliminates several insurgents in Oruzgan
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces, assisted by Coalition forces, engaged in a day-long battle eliminating several insurgents near the village of Deh Rawod, Tarin Kowt District, Oruzgan Province Dec. 17.
The ANSF-led force was conducting a security patrol in the area when a group of insurgents attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. ANSF quickly returned fire, putting the enemy on the defensive.
Sixteen insurgents were spotted relocating to a nearby structure where they reengaged the combined force with small-arms and rocket fire. The ANSF returned small-arms and mortar fire and called in close-air support, effectively eliminating the enemy fighting position.
