Good News From The War On Terror 1/3
AQI safe house destroyed, 5 detained (Zambraniyah)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KASLU, Iraq – Apache aviators destroyed an al-Qaeda in Iraq safe houses in the Zambraniyah area Jan. 1.
While on a patrol, Soldiers from Troop B, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, encountered small arms fire and indirect fire from a house.
An AH-64 Apache helicopter from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div. engaged the house with a hellfire missile.
The engagement resulted in one enemy killed, one enemy wounded, one local Iraqi wounded and five suspected al-Qaeda members detained.
A second Apache destroyed an improvised explosive device discovered by a local Iraqi in the area.
He reported the IED to Soldiers of the 6-8 Cav., Reg. operationally attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div. and Soldiers of the 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division.
The IED was believed to be placed in the man’s house by al-Qaeda.
Iraqi Army Soldiers removed the IED and placed it in an open field, where it was destroyed by an Apache helicopter.
Coalition forces target al-Qaeda safe house; 7 killed (Muqdadiya)
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed seven terrorists today during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Muqdadiyah.
Coalition forces targeted associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader allegedly responsible for coordinating and directing a large terrorist group, and carrying out executions in the Diyala River Valley region. Intelligence reports indicate the group killed at least two people execution style in the last few days and has engaged with Coalition forces on multiple occasions. This operation follows several weeks of coordinated raids against this group by Coalition forces.
During the operation this morning, the terrorists were positively identified at a known al-Qaeda in Iraq safe-house. Coalition forces directed a precision air strike and assessed two terrorists were killed in the operation.
Later in the day, Coalition forces positively identified terrorists involved in the same terrorist group operating in the region, and Coalition forces directed a second air strike killing an additional five terrorists.
Coalition forces kill al-Qaeda in Iraq leader (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed a terrorist leader and two other terrorists during operations on December 28th to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq networks operating near the capital city.
During the operation, Coalition forces targeted Muhammad Khalil Ibrahim, the deputy military leader for the al-Qaeda in Iraq network operating south of Baghdad. Ibrahim was a key planner in numerous attacks against Coalition forces operating in the Mahmudiyah area, and was also involved in the facilitation of foreign terrorists and weapons. Also, Ibrahim and other senior al-Qaeda members were allegedly planning to conduct a large-scale attack against Coalition forces in the near future.
Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to a location in Mahmudiyah where Ibrahim was believed to be operating. Coalition forces confirmed his presence and supporting aircraft engaged the time-sensitive target. Once the area was secure, the ground force assessed that three terrorists were killed in the strike, to include Ibrahim. The two other terrorists were assessed to be leaders associated with the terrorist network in Iskandariyah. The ground force also discovered a machine gun, a suicide vest and several grenades in Ibrahim’s vehicle.
