Good News From The War On Terror 1/24-25
Haditha SWAT detains four suspects
BALAD, Iraq – The Haditha Special Weapons and Tactics team, trained by U.S. Special Operations Forces, conducted its first solo operation in Barwanah Jan. 21,detaining four suspects.
“The Haditha SWAT team became operational only one month ago,” said the detachment unit commander in charge of their training. “Despite that, team members used their training and worked as if they had been together for years.”
The SWAT team had been on four other operations with U.S. Special Operations Forces acting as advisers, but had not completed an operation as a single unit.
The Jan. 21 operation was the first where the team collected intelligence and performed the raid independently. During the raid, SWAT members detained four individuals and confiscated material used to make improvised explosive devices.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq networks disrupted; one killed, 19 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 19 suspects Thursday and today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
Northeast of Samarra, near the Hamrin Mountains Thursday, Coalition forces targeted a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq associate who allegedly serves as an interrogator at a terrorist prison and training camp in the region. Reports indicate the individual facilitates weapons purchases and fighter movements in the area. Also, the targeted individual’s brother was killed during an operation Sep. 30 for his involvement in the foreign terrorist facilitation and kidnapping network in the Hamrin mountain region.
Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to a location where the targeted individual was believed to be operating and they engaged, killing one armed terrorist and destroying a vehicle.
During another operation in the area this morning, two suspected terrorists were detained while Coalition forces targeted an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq member associated with terrorist media and propaganda operations.
Coalition forces captured a wanted individual near Baghdad Thursday believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader in Al Bawi. Reports indicate the suspected terrorist was responsible for a car bomb attack that targeted a Coalition forces patrol Oct. 30. The individual is also allegedly involved in trafficking weapons throughout the southern Baghdad region and was reportedly planning an attack in the capital city area. In addition to the wanted individual, the ground force detained four suspected terrorists during the operation.
In Baghdad today, Coalition forces captured another wanted individual allegedly involved in the facilitation of weapons, improvised explosive device materials, vehicles and suicide bombers for use in al-Qaeda in Iraq attacks. Reports indicate the suspect is also connected to foreign terrorist facilitation networks, to include several terrorists currently operating outside of Iraq. The wanted individual is also reportedly associated with another suspected terrorist detained Jan. 12 for his involvement in terrorist attacks.
Coalition forces conducted a series of coordinated operations in Bayji today, capturing two wanted individuals and four additional suspects. One of the wanted individuals is reportedly an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader of the media and propaganda network in Bayji. The other wanted individual was captured at a follow-on location and is believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader of a sniper cell responsible for attacks against Coalition forces. Both individuals are allegedly tied to numerous terrorist leaders in the region to include the senior leader of the Bayji network.
During operations in Mosul Thursday and this morning, Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and three suspected terrorists. The two wanted individuals detained Thursday are allegedly involved in the Ansar al Sunna group operating in the city. Reports indicate the suspected terrorists are senior leaders of the group and have ties to a network of other extremists operating in the region.
Nine suspected insurgents detained in Ghazni
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Coalition forces conducted an operation Wednesday to degrade Taliban command and control networks in Ghazni Province in which several insurgents were killed and nine suspected insurgents were detained.
Coalition forces performed a search of several compounds in Ghazni district targeting a Taliban commander associated with suicide improvised explosive device operations.
Coalition forces were met with small-arms fire from several insurgents during a search of one of the compounds. Using a combination of small-arms and accurate aerial-delivered conventional munitions, Coalition forces returned fire killing several insurgents.
Coalition forces found and detained nine individuals when they continued their search of the area. The detainees will be questioned on their involvement in facilitation operations as well as other extremist activities.
Coalition forces also found a cache of explosives that was destroyed on-site to prevent further use by extremist forces.
Combined force eliminates insurgent cell in Kunar
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – A Combined force destroyed an insurgent cell in Kunar Province this morning.
During the operation, Afghan National Security Forces, advised by Coalition Forces, came under fire from Taliban insurgents while conducting a cordon and search of a compound looking for insurgents in the Nari District.
The combined force returned fire using accurate small-arms fire and requested close air support.
Precision-guided munitions from the aircraft were used to eliminate the enemy threat.
