Good News From The War On Terror 12/30
Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations; six killed, 14 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 14 suspects Saturday and today during operations targeting al-Qaeda in central and northern Iraq.
During an operation north of Muqdadiyah Saturday, Coalition forces targeted associates of the al-Qaeda network operating in the northeast Diyala River Valley region. Reports indicate the individuals are associated with the group that has been involved in numerous firefights with Coalition forces over the past few weeks. The presence of the wanted individuals was confirmed in the target area and supporting aircraft engaged the time-sensitive target, killing one terrorist.
Coalition forces then continued their approach and were engaged by enemy fire. The ground force returned fire, killing three terrorists. While clearing the area, the ground force discovered numerous weapons, including several machine guns, military style assault vests and magazines, improvised explosive devices, and a rocket propelled grenade launcher and rounds. In addition to the weapons, Coalition forces safely destroyed a vehicle used for terrorist activity.
Coalition forces returned to the Muqdadiyah area today and targeted alleged associates of individuals killed in Saturday’s operation. As the ground force approached the target area they were engaged by enemy fire and returned fire in self-defense. They then observed two armed men emerge from the target building and maneuver in separate directions. The ground force engaged one of the men, killing him. The other individual moved to a nearby palm grove and supporting aircraft engaged his position. As the ground force approached the position, the suspect engaged them. The ground force returned fire, killing him.
Once the enemy fire ceased, Coalition forces began to clear the site and found two weapons caches, including 10 rifles, eight grenades, four military-style assault vests with 20 loaded magazines, 1,000 rounds of ammunition and rocket propellant. One of the armed men was wearing a suicide vest. On site, the ground force safely destroyed the weapons caches and a vehicle allegedly used for terrorist activity. Seven suspected terrorists were also detained during the operation.
Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces also detained six suspected terrorists during an operation today targeting associates of the al-Qaeda network in Mosul.
During an operation Saturday, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual west of Mahmudiyah. He is believed to be a leader in the city’s al-Qaeda network and is allegedly responsible for establishing a training center for female suicide bombers in Yusufiyah. He is also reportedly responsible for coordinating attacks against Coalition forces and facilitating the necessary weapons and explosives for the attacks. During an operation Dec. 1, Coalition forces killed one of the wanted individual’s alleged subordinates for his role in supplying vehicles and materials for the car-bombing network in Baghdad.
Concerned Local Citizens deliver cache to Coalition Forces
BAGHDAD – Members of a Concerned Local Citizen group seized a cache of munitions southeast of Forward Operating Base Hammer and east of the city of Al Nijidat Dec. 26.
The cache consisted of 23 rocket motors, two 82 mm mortars, four 81 mm illumination shells, one rocket-propelled grenade, one 115 mm high-explosive tank round, one 106 mm high-explosive anti-tank round and several other explosive items, including an artillery fuse.
The CLC group delivered the cache to FOB Hammer, where Capt. Chas Cannon, from Moultrie, Ga., commander of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, met with the group.
Iraqi Army Soldiers recover large cache
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army Soldiers reported recovering a large weapons cache in Mansour, a district in western Baghdad, Dec. 28.
The Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, recovered two mortar tubes, 86 mortar rounds, five improvised rocket launchers, ten rockets, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, seven RPG rounds, six hand grenades and various bomb-making materials.
A Coalition Forces explosive ordnance disposal unit destroyed the explosives and propellants, while the IA unit took control of the remaining items.
