Good News From The War On Terror 12/25-26

Coalition forces target terrorist facilitators, suicide bombers; 13 killed, 27 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed 13 terrorists and detained 27 suspects Monday and today during operations targeting al-Qaeda in central and northern Iraq. During a series of operations south of Samarra Monday and today, Coalition forces targeted an alleged senior level foreign terrorist facilitator for al-Qaeda in Iraq. The targeted individual is also believed to be responsible for the facilitation of weapons and finances and involved in suicide-bombing operations, some of which include female operatives. Acting on intelligence reports, Coalition forces targeted a location where the individual was believed to be operating and called supporting aircraft to engage. Four individuals emerged from the target area and attempted to evade capture. As Coalition forces approached one of the individuals, the suspect detonated a suicide vest, killing himself. The ground force then located two of the suspects hiding in a wooded area. Coalition forces engaged and killed the two men. Another individual, who was wounded in the initial engagement, was also found hiding in the wooded area and was subsequently detained. The suspect was treated on site and transported to a military medical facility for further care. As the ground force secured the target area, they discovered several weapons, which were safely destroyed on site, along with a vehicle used for terrorist activity. During the series of operations in the area, Coalition forces also detained 15 other suspected terrorists. Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces targeted associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader allegedly responsible for coordinating and directing numerous terrorist attacks in the region. Intelligence reports indicate the individuals had executed a man earlier in the day and were later observed in the target area. During the operation this morning, Coalition forces were engaged on two separate occasions by armed men as they attempted to clear target buildings in the area. The men charged at the Coalition forces’ position, and the ground force engaged the enemy, killing four terrorists. As the ground force continued to clear the area, they were engaged by machine gun fire and grenades from underneath one of the structures. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces returned fire and called for supporting aircraft to engage. Once enemy fire ceased, the ground force assessed that five terrorists were killed during the engagement. Coalition forces also detained one suspect during the operation.  In Baghdad Monday, Coalition forces targeted an alleged al-Qaeda member involved in bomb-making operations within the south Karkh car-bombing network. As the ground force arrived in the area, they observed six men maneuvering away from the target building. Coalition forces followed the men and detained four of the suspects. The two other individuals were subsequently engaged. One of them was killed, while the remaining suspect was wounded, detained and transported to a medical facility for treatment. Five suspected terrorists were detained south of Hawija today, during operations targeting an al-Qaeda leader for the network operating in Kirkuk.

 

Concerned Local Citizens find IED, cache in Arab Jabour

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Concerned Local Citizens found an improvised explosive device formed from rigged land mines and ammunition near Patrol Base Murray in Arab Jabour Dec. 23. A 155 mm artillery round, an 82 mm mortar and two land mines were found rigged with detonation cord near the base. The CLCs turned over the IED, along with other weapons cache items found at the same site, to Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. The weapons caches consisted of 23 shape charges, three rocket propelled grenades, two 57 mm projectiles, four 73 mm propellant charges, 20 pounds of TNT, eight projectile fuses, one RPG warhead, six boxes of DSHKA high-caliber machine gun rounds, one fragmentation grenade, six 4.5-pound blocks of TNT, five pounds of unknown bulk explosive, two pounds of PE4, and 14 120 mm mortar propellant charges.

 

UPDATE: Coalition forces positively identify terrorist killed in raid

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A terrorist killed south of Samarra Nov. 8 has been positively identified as Abu Abdullah. Abu Abdullah, also known as Muhammad Sulayman Shunaythir al-Zuba’i, was a high-level al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for a network operating in the Salah ad Din province. Reports indicate Abdullah was an experienced bomb-maker and attack planner who coordinated numerous attacks on Coalition and Iraqi forces over the past three years, using a variety of improvised explosive devices combined with small-arms fire. Abdullah was also allegedly responsible for the kidnapping, extortion and murder of local Iraqis, and it is believed he led a group of foreign terrorists, whom he used to conduct his car-bombing campaigns. Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to a location where Abdullah was operating. The ground force observed Abdullah, fired warning shots directing him to stop and was then engaged by enemy fire. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces returned fire, igniting the vehicle. The ground force observed secondary explosions erupt from the vehicle, indicating that explosives were inside. Abdullah and an associate were killed during the engagement.  Intelligence indicates that Abdullah had historical ties to the Battle of Fallujah in 2004, and was a close contact of the former al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi before he was killed by Coalition forces in June 2006. Prior to leading an AQI network in Salah ad Din Province, reports indicate Abdullah was a regional Emir controlling AQI terrorists in an area between west Baghdad and east of Fallujah.

 

Coalition forces target terrorists in Diyala, Tarmiyah; four killed, one detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained one suspect today, during operations targeting al-Qaeda in central Iraq. In continued efforts to disrupt terrorist activities in the Diyala River Valley, Coalition forces conducted two coordinated operations north of Muqdadiyah targeting associates of the al-Qaeda network in the region. Intelligence reports indicate the individuals are associated with the group that was involved in several fire fights with Coalition forces during operations on Dec. 12 and 13. During one of the operations, the ground force called for occupants to come out of the target area, but they did not comply. Coalition forces then approached the target area and were engaged by enemy fire. The ground force pulled back to a safe position and called for supporting aircraft to engage. Coalition forces assessed that two terrorists were killed from the strike. Nearby, Coalition forces confirmed the presence of the wanted individuals associated with the previous target, and supporting aircraft again engaged.  Once the area was cleared, the ground force assessed two terrorists were killed, one of whom was armed with a suicide vest. West of Tarmiyah, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a close associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for the network north of Baghdad. The network is responsible for the majority of the car-bombing and improvised explosive device attacks in the area. They are also involved in extortion, intimidation, weapons trafficking and the facilitation of foreign terrorists. Reports indicate the wanted individual replaced the terrorist that was killed during a Coalition forces operation Dec. 11. When the ground force arrived in the target area, the wanted individual identified himself and was subsequently detained.

 

Coalition Forces target extremist hide-out with JDAM

MOSUL, Iraq – Coalition Forces destroyed a series of tunnels with a joint direct attack munition near Mosul Dec. 25. During search operations in the area, a series of tunnels were discovered. The search also discovered 15 150mm mortar rounds, multiple hand grenades, multiple AK-47 rifles and other IED-making material.

 

Iraqi Special Operations Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain terrorist weapons dealer (Baghdad)

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a suspected terrorist weapons dealer during a Dec. 25 raid in Baghdad. The suspect is believed to deal in a variety of weapons systems including mortars, rockets, medium and small arms. He is also thought to be a possible improvised explosive device cell leader. During the raid, the assault force recovered several weapons including two assault rifles, four grenades, three combat knives, 11 AK-47 magazines, an RPG launcher sight and an IED initiation system.