Good News From The War On Terror 1/16
Coalition forces degrade al-Qaeda networks; three terrorists killed, four detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained four suspects today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
During an operation west of Muqdadiyah, Coalition forces targeted a known al-Qaeda in Iraq meeting location for the network operating in the northeast Diyala River Valley region. As the ground force arrived in the target area, an armed terrorist engaged them from a building the rooftop. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces engaged and killed him.
Continuing to clear the target area, the ground force entered one of the buildings and encountered two armed men. Coalition forces engaged the perceived hostile force, killing the terrorists. Inside the building, the ground force discovered a weapons cache which included several machine guns and magazines, grenades, a mortar and military style assault vests. Coalition forces assessed the building to be structurally unsafe and destroyed it, along with the weapons inside, to prevent further use for terrorist activities. Two suspected terrorists were also detained during the course of operations.
In Baghdad, Coalition forces captured a suspected terrorist who is reportedly an associate of the al-Qaeda in Iraq car bomb cell leader in Karkh. The cell leader allegedly was involved in the manufacture of a car bomb that was used in an attack in Baghdad Dec. 20 that resulted in two Iraqi civilians being killed. During the operation, the wanted individual identified himself to the ground force and was subsequently detained.
The al-Qaeda in Iraq network in the capital city, including Karkh, is operating in a degraded state following recent Coalition operations in the region. These operations resulted in the capture of a suspected key leader for the al-Qaeda in Iraq network south of Baghdad, who was detained Jan. 10, and several suspected Karkh network leaders, who were detained Dec. 7 for their alleged role in planning a spectacular suicide car bomb attack in the city.
During an operation farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq member believed to be associated with senior leaders of the terrorist network in the eastern part of the city. Several of the suspect’s associates reportedly have direct ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader, Abu Ayyub al-Masri. The operation builds on several recent Coalition successes which have degraded the network in Mosul, to include operations Dec. 14 and Jan. 6, which resulted in the detention of several key senior leaders in the network.
Iraqi Police capture suspected terrorists (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Police officials caught and detained three local Iraqi suspected terrorists in the Iraqi capital Jan. 3.
The suspects had falsified Ministry of Interior badges, videotape footage of Coalition Forces, a sniper rifle with a night-vision scope, a pistol, cell phones and a video camera in their possession.
All three suspected terrorists tested positive for gunpowder and explosive residue.
Iraqi Police officials detained the suspects in Al Rashad National Police Station. Soldiers from 95th Military Police Battalion provided security around the station and Soldiers from Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, transported them for further questioning and processing.
Operation Phantom Phoenix: U.S. Soldiers find cache, given warheads (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers found a cache of explosives and were given a bag containing warheads by an Iraqi citizen in the Rashid district Jan. 14.
During an early morning patrol, “Warriors’ of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, TF Dragon, found a cache of 16 sticks of plastic explosives, 17 blasting caps, three RPG boosters and five mortar fuses.
The cache was taken to a Coalition base for disposal.
At 11 a.m. a local national brought a bag of an unknown amount of rocketpropelled grenade warheads to “Cougars” of Company D, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Dragon.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel determined the warheads as too unstable to move and detonated them on site.
ISF, MND-N Soldiers kill seven extremists after attack (Mosul)
TIKRIT, Iraq – Seven extremists were killed Jan. 15 after they attacked Iraqi Security Forces in Mosul.
Multi-National Division-North Soldiers in support of ISF observed the extremists load a vehicle with weapons and then attack the ISF with small arms.
MND-N Soldiers engaged the vehicle, destroying it and killing an extremist.
The Coalition Forces cordoned the area and moved in to search a house the remaining individual ran into.
There they came under attack by small arms fire and hand grenades.
After an air weapons team engaged the house, MND-N Soldiers searched the building and recovered the bodies of three more extremists.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained nine suspects Tuesday and today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to conduct an operation Tuesday east of Samarra targeting alleged associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader involved in foreign terrorist facilitation and carrying out attacks against Coalition forces. Reports indicate the cell leader has ties to several terrorist leaders in the network and is associated with al-Qaeda leaders in Salah ad Din.
Coalition forces confirmed the presence of the wanted individuals in the target area and fired warning shots. The individuals did not comply and were observed attempting to reach for their weapons. Coalition forces fired more warning shots, but the men still did not comply and Coalition forces engaged. Three terrorists were killed during the operation, including the wanted individuals.
Today, reports led Coalition forces to an area northeast of Samarra believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq meeting location, and associated with nearby operations from yesterday. During the operation, the ground force detained four suspected terrorists.
Coalition forces captured a wanted suspect northwest of Taji for his ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader of the network west of Baghdad. The suspect and his brother are reportedly involved in the facilitation of foreign terrorists and weapons, as well as participation in attacks against Coalition forces. The wanted individual identified himself to the ground force and was subsequently detained along with two additional suspects. Coalition forces also discovered a vehicle in the target area that was assessed to contain explosive materials, and it was safely destroyed on site.
West of Qayyarah this morning, Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists while targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq member believed to be a close associate to several senior level foreign terrorist facilitators.
Soldiers capture High Value Target south of Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division Center Soldiers, in support of Operation Phantom Phoenix, captured 15 suspected extremists, including a high-value target individual, during an air assault raid 25 miles south of Baghdad Jan. 14.
The HVT suspect is believed to be involved in planning attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces and for contributing to sectarian violence.
