Good News From The War On Terror 12/8-9

Coalition forces disrupts al-Qaeda networks; 12 killed, 13 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed 12 terrorists and detained 13 suspects during operations Saturday to disrupt al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq. During an operation south of Yusufiyah, Coalition forces targeted a suspected associate of an al-Qaeda leader involved in the network operating south of Bagdad. The network is believed to be involved in planning an attack against Coalition forces operating in the region. As Coalition forces approached the area, they observed several armed men emerge from the target building, maneuvering into military style positions into a nearby palm grove. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged.  As the ground force began to clear the area, they saw additional movement from the armed men, to include one that attempted to maneuver away and evade capture. Coalition forces called for supporting aircraft to engage the perceived hostile threat.  During the engagements, a total of ten terrorists were killed. Once the area was secure, the ground force discovered numerous machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, and several sandbags full of homemade explosive material, which were safely destroyed on site. Additionally, two suspected terrorists were detained during the course of operations. North of Jalula, Coalition forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq member believed to be involved in the terrorist network operating in the Diyala River Valley. The targeted individual is reportedly associated with senior terrorist members and involved in attacks against Coalition and Iraqi security forces. During the operation, as Coalition forces approached the target, several men emerged and ran into a nearby palm grove. The ground force located one of the individuals and called for him to stop his movement, but he did not comply. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged, killing him.  Upon clearing the target area, the ground forces discovered a small cache of ammunition. Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader tied to a network of senior leaders in the region. Reports indicate the targeted individual has a history of involvement in terrorist activities and has held positions in numerous al-Qaeda networks operating in the city. As the ground force entered one of the buildings in the target area, an individual was injured as he attempted to flee the building. He was treated on site, but died before being transported to a medical facility.  Additionally, three suspected terrorists were detained on site without incident. During another operation, Coalition forces detained eight suspected terrorists in Samarra while targeting a senior foreign terrorist facilitator with ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders.

 

Tip leads MND-B Soldiers to large cache in Ameriyah

BAGHDAD – Acting on a tip from area volunteers, Coalition Forces uncovered the second largest weapons cache ever discovered by Task Force 1-5 Cavalry in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Ameriyah late on Dec. 3. The tip came from members of the Forsan Al Rafidain (Arabic for “knights of the two rivers’), an Iraqi volunteer security force in the area. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), uncovered a cache consisting of several different types of anti-tank mines, grenades and a large quantity of improvised explosive device-making material. The cache included 95 landmines as well as an assortment of different rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades. The last time a cache of this size was found in Ameriyah was in late summer, during the most intense fighting between Al Qaeda and Coalition Forces. After the cache was uncovered, a Forsan Al Rafidain member received a phone call stating there was an IED in the area. After a brief search, one pressure-plate IED was found on the front porch of the house where the weapons cache was discovered.

 

Al-Qaeda networks disrupted; Coalition forces detain 10 suspects

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured three wanted individuals and seven additional suspects during operations Sunday to disrupt al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq. During two coordinated operations in Baghdad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual and three suspected terrorists. The wanted individual is an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader associated with media operations and propaganda.  Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces captured another wanted individual believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader. He was allegedly involved in the terrorist network operating in the city and is thought to have ties to other terrorist leaders operating throughout northern Iraq. One of his associates reportedly provides weapons and improvised explosive device materials to the cell leaders for use in attacks in the area. In addition to the wanted individual, two other suspected terrorists were detained without incident. During continued operations to disrupt terrorist networks in the Diyala River Valley, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader for the network in Khan Bani Sad. Two of the wanted individuals’ close associates were recently detained by Coalition forces during operations Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 for their involvement in the network. Two suspected terrorists were detained during an operation south of Salman Pak targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader involved in facilitation of weapons and attacks on Coalition and Iraqi security forces.