Good News From The War On Terror 12/31-1/1
Coalition forces capture Special Groups leader; disrupt criminal element network
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected Special Groups leader during operations to disrupt criminal element networks today in the Al-Husayniyah area.
The targeted individual was reportedly the Special Groups recruiter for the Karbala Province. He allegedly helped facilitate the training of numerous criminals in activities including explosively formed penetrators, improvised explosive devices, operational security and computer security training. He is assessed as an associate of several other senior-level criminal element leaders who were involved in attacks on Coalition forces.
When Coalition forces approached the target area, an unidentified man exited a building and displayed hostile intent. The unidentified man ignored verbal and visual warnings to cease movement. Responding in self defense, ground forces engaged the unidentified man, wounding him. The Coalition forces medical team administered on-site treatment to the individual. Ground forces continued on to the target area and captured the targeted individual without further incident. During the operation, Coalition forces also discovered a large amount of American currency.
2 weapons caches found south of Baghdad
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Coalition Forces found and destroyed a weapons cache in Al Buaytha and Concerned Local Citizens turned in another cache in Hawr Rajab during search operations Dec. 29.
Soldiers of Company D, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, found the first cache in Al Buaytha, which consisted of a 120 mm mortar round, three rocket-propelled grenades and other improvised explosive device-making materials.
The second, larger cache was found by CLCs and turned in to Soldiers from Troop A, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div., operationally attached to the 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
This cache consisted of eight 60 mm mortar rounds, two fire extinguishers filled with homemade explosives and 11 blasting caps.
Cavalry unit thwarts extremists’ plan (Jisr Diyala)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Two extremists were detained after members of Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment observed the men acting suspiciously near Jisr Diyala on a road frequently used by Coalition Forces, Dec. 26.
The men were approached by the Soldiers who had been observing the road looking for enemy activity and improvised explosive devices.
The two men were detained and later identified as high-value individuals – numbers three and five – on the 3rd Squadron’s most wanted list.
During questioning, one of them admitted to placing an IED on the road.
An immediate search of the area produced nothing, however, the men were previously linked to an active IED manufacturing and deployment cell. The cell’s leader was captured earlier in the day in eastern Baghdad.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 21 suspects today during operations targeting al-Qaeda in central and northern Iraq.
In Kirkuk, Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals believed to be involved in improvised explosive device attacks against Coalition forces. Reports indicate the wanted individuals are Ansar al Sunna members and are highly experienced in manufacturing IEDs for attacks. The two individuals are believed to be brothers and involved in the Ansar al Sunna network operating in Kirkuk.
Nearby, Coalition forces captured another wanted individual believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader of the network operating in the Kirkuk province. The wanted individual is reportedly associated with numerous senior terrorists and foreign terrorist facilitators operating throughout the region, many of them who were recently killed or captured through successful Coalition forces operations. One of the wanted individual’s associates, Abu Harith, was an al-Qaeda in Iraq member operating as the leader of a terrorist network in Kirkuk, and was killed during an operation Nov. 21. In addition to the wanted individual, the ground force detained one suspected terrorist during the operation.
During a series of operations south of Samarra, Coalition forces detained five suspected terrorists while targeting associates of the al-Qaeda network operating in the Raga village area. The targeted individuals are believed to be associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders, to include foreign terrorist facilitators, and have allegedly facilitated their movement into the area.
Coalition forces also detained 12 suspected terrorists during operations in Mosul targeting associates of the al-Qaeda in Iraq leadership in the city.
Coalition capture 3 extremists
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division - Baghdad troops arrested three suspected extremists after receiving a tip from a local citizen on their whereabouts in the Doura neighborhood in southeastern Baghdad Dec. 28.
Company C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment “Warriors,” attached to Task Force Dragon, arrested the three suspects after informants identified them as having transported al-Qaeda snipers in and out of Doura, and allegedly being part of an improvised explosive device cell.
The suspected extremists were taken to a Coalition Forces’ detention facility for further questioning.
Several militants killed during Helmand Province operation
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces conducted an operation Monday to disrupt Taliban extremist operations in Helmand Province.
The combined team of Afghan and Coalition forces searched compounds in the Nahr Surkh district targeting militants associated with Taliban extremists and foreign fighter facilitators reported to be operating in the area.
While searching one of the compounds in the area, Afghan and Coalition forces came under small-arms fire from several militants. Using a combination of defensive return fire and hand grenades, Afghan and Coalition forces quelled the militants’ attacks, killing several in the process. During one engagement, a militant was killed when he fired on the combined force from a barricaded room in one of the compound’s buildings. In another engagement, several other militants were killed while firing on the combined force from another building on the compound.
There were no immediate indications of injuries or deaths to civilians not taking part in hostilities.
During a post-hostilities assessment, the combined force found a weapons cache consisting of several AK-47s, rocket propelled grenades and explosives. The weapons cache was destroyed on-site to prevent further use by militant forces.
