Good News From The War On Terror 1/17
Coalition forces capture criminal element network facilitator
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected criminal network facilitator early today during operations to disrupt criminal element networks in the Baghdad area.
The targeted individual reportedly trained criminals to perform attacks on Coalition and Iraqi forces. He allegedly facilitated the training of numerous criminals in guerilla warfare. The wanted individual was also reported to be 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 location where they captured the wanted individual without incident.
Al-Qaeda operations in northern Iraq disrupted; two killed, 17 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 17 suspects today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in northern Iraq.
In Bi’aj, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for the network in the western region of Mosul. Reports indicate the wanted individual is a direct associate of numerous terrorist leaders, to include the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri. The suspect allegedly has a history of terrorist activity that originated in Baghdad, and is believed to have been recently appointed to a leadership position in the region after the previous terrorist leader was killed.
As Coalition forces arrived in the target area, an armed terrorist ran at their position and was repeatedly directed to stop, but did not comply. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged the man and killed him. As Coalition forces continued to clear the area, they were engaged by small arms fire north of their position. A supporting aircraft was called to suppress enemy fire, killing the armed terrorist. Three suspected terrorists were also detained during the operation without further incident.
During two coordinated operations in Mosul, Coalition forces targeted senior leaders involved in the al-Qaeda network operating in the city. In one location, Coalition forces captured a suspected terrorist who was allegedly operating as a judge of a terrorist illegal court system. Reports indicate the suspect is involved in the interrogation of individuals who have been kidnapped by al-Qaeda in Iraq networks and is responsible for the facilitation and maintenance of weapons caches in the area. The individual is also allegedly a subordinate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for the Mosul network, who was detained Jan. 6 for his role in terrorist attacks, abductions and executions.
Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to a follow-on operation where they detained five suspected terrorists while targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader for Mosul.
Coalition forces conducted an operation northeast of Samarra targeting associates of the al-Qaeda network in the city. Information gained from previous operations in the area led the ground force to a location where al-Qaeda in Iraq members were believed to be operating. Eight suspected terrorists were detained.
Coalition forces target al-Qaeda near Hamrin Lake, three terrorists killed
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed three terrorists today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks north of Jalula.
Intelligence reports from previous operations led Coalition forces to a location northeast of Hamrin Lake, where al-Qaeda in Iraq networks were believed to be operating. Coalition forces assessed that recent success in the Diyala River Valley region pushed these terrorists to seek safe haven in the area.
As Coalition forces arrived at one of the target buildings in the area, they repeatedly called for the occupants to come out, but they did not comply. The ground force was then engaged by armed gunmen from the rooftop and surrounding courtyard. Coalition forces returned fire in self-defense and a supporting aircraft engaged to suppress the enemy force. The ground force was also engaged by an armed man near the entrance to the courtyard of the building, and pulled back to allow supporting aircraft to engage the hostile threat.
Once the enemy fire ceased, Coalition forces cleared the area and assessed that three terrorists were killed during the engagement. The ground force discovered that two women were also killed and two other women were wounded during the engagement. The wounded women received immediate medical attention by Coalition forces medical personnel before being airlifted to a military medical facility for further treatment.
During another operation in the area, Coalition forces returned to a building from a previous operation and called for the building’s occupants to come out. An individual exited, but did not comply with verbal instructions and ignored warning shots. The man continued to approach the ground force and Coalition forces engaged, killing him. Similar tactics have been used in the area by suicide bombers to attack Coalition forces, and the ground force perceived hostile intent.
