Good News From The War On Terror 3/5-6
Coalition disrupts al-Qaeda in Iraq operations, 22 suspects detained
BAGHDAD – Coalition forces detained 22 suspects today during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks operating in northern and central Iraq.
West of Biaj, in the western part of Ninawa Province, Coalition forces detained two suspects. One of the suspects is an alleged associate of al-Qaeda networks in northern Iraq. He is reportedly responsible for the facilitation of finances to networks throughout the Mosul area and associated with several senior level foreign terrorist facilitators.
In Mosul, Coalition forces captured another alleged associate of the wanted individual near Biaj. The Mosul suspect is reportedly connected to foreign terrorist facilitation and smuggling networks in the city. Three suspected terrorists were detained in Mosul in addition to the wanted individual.
Also in Mosul, two suspects were detained while targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq associate involved in attacks against Coalition forces and connected to Abu Yasir al-Saudi, also known as Jar Allah, the Saudi AQI leader killed Feb. 27.
During coordinated operations in Samarra, Coalition forces captured an alleged facilitator involved in the AQI network in the city. The suspect is reportedly associated with two leaders in the network involved in terrorist military and administrative operations. In addition to the wanted man, the ground force detained two suspects during the operations.
In Baghdad, Coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists during operations targeting an alleged associate of the senior leader for the southern belt AQI network, and a financial facilitator with direct ties to AQI senior leaders in the Baghdad area.
West of the Hamrin Mountains, in Albu Bakr village, Coalition forces conducted an operation Sunday through Tuesday targeting an AQI propaganda cell and meeting location. During the operation, the ground force detained eight suspected terrorists and discovered a cache of weapons and military equipment, including military style assault vests and equipment belts, signal rockets, grenades, machine gun magazines, various ammunition and anti-aircraft rounds.
ISWAT, U.S. Special Forces kill 9, detain 8 in Ninewa province
BALAD, Iraq – The Tal Afar Special Weapons and Tactics team, advised by U.S. Special Forces, killed nine criminals and detained eight suspects during an operation to disrupt an al Qaeda in Iraq cell south of Tal Afar in western Ninewa province March 2.
During the intelligence-driven operation against a known criminal support base and suspected training camp, Iraqi SWAT and U.S. SF targeted a cell responsible for assassinations, improvised explosive device attacks, and illegal traffic control points throughout the Tal Afar area. The cell is also suspected of conducting recent rocket attacks in the area against Iraqi civilians, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces.
When approaching the camp, several fighters attacked the lead Iraqi SWAT and U.S. SF vehicles with heavy fire from rifles and at least one machine gun. One SWAT vehicle was hit and disabled by a PKC machine gun, killing three Iraqi SWAT members and wounding three others.
ISWAT and U.S. SF continued while under heavy fire from several locations in the camp and adjacent wadi. During this engagement, nine enemy fighters were killed.
Three Iraqi civilians were wounded and treated on-site. Eight suspected cell members were detained for further questioning, including two who were wounded and evacuated to a Coalition Forces hospital for treatment. The three Iraqi SWAT team members were also evacuated for treatment.
The operation discovered 100 meters of electrical wire and 12 blasting caps for constructing IEDs, one PKC machine gun, one RPG-7 rocket launcher, four AK-47 rifles, nine grenades, more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition, and one Belgian-made landmine.
Sons of Iraq in Sabbah Nissan discover weapons cache
BAGHDAD – The Sons of Iraq of Sabbah Nissan, a village southeast of Baghdad, discovered a large weapons cache and handed it over to Soldiers of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery at Forward Operating Base Hammer Feb. 28.
This was the most recent of 13 weapons caches the SOI have brought to Battery A since the inception of the SOI program in Sabbah Nissan.
The cache consisted of 28 rocket propelled grenade motors, five 125 mm artillery rounds, two 60 mm mortars, one 125 mm HEAT round, one 82 mm mortar, one rocket propelled grenade warhead, two fuses and a 155 mm round.
Iraqi Security Forces recover large weapons cache in Jabella
BALAD, Iraq – Jabellah Iraqi Police recovered a large weapons and munitions cache in Jabella, south of Iskandariyah, March 4.
An Iraqi police officer discovered the cache in a house in Jabella. Jabella IP secured the cache and contacted provincial officials to determine its disposition.
Provincial Iraqi Security Forces responded to provide inventory and take charge of the cache, pending its final disposition. Provincial officials ultimately decided to transfer the cache into Coalition forces control.
The operation was deemed a success in that local and provincial Iraqi Security Forces worked quickly and decisively to remove a significant cache from potential use by criminal and Special Groups in the area.
The cache consisted of 165 one-pound blocks of C-4 explosive, 19 rocket propelled grenades, five RPG launchers, one 60mm mortar tube, three rolls of detonation cord and two blasting caps for making improvised explosive devices, 25 107 mm high explosive rockets and 23 rocket fuses, 10 120 mm high explosive mortar rounds, 84 60 mm and 60 81 mm high explosive mortar rounds, along with six 60 mm mortar fuses.
ANSF capture insurgents, destroy known IED making facilities in Zabul
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan- Afghan National Security Forces, assisted by Coalition forces, captured seven insurgents Feb. 28 in Surkhagan Village during an air assault mission in Zabul province.
During the recent operations, Afghan National Army and Coalition forces infiltrated several compounds and cave complexes in search of insurgents, bomb-making facilities and material.
They found three Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices, IED making materials, storage facilities, ammunition caches and insurgent fighting positions. The combined force called in precision air strikes that destroyed the cave complex, fighting positions and the ammunition storage areas.
ANA leadership conducted a shura with the villagers to assure them the area is safer now because the insurgents were captured, which helped neutralize the IED threat.
ANSF inflict insurgent losses in Helmand province
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces, advised by Coalition forces, killed several insurgents March 2 after a failed ambush by the Taliban 30 kilometers northeast of Gareshk District in Helmand province.
The combined force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol when a group of insurgents engaged them with small-arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar fire. The combined force immediately returned accurate small-arms and machine gun fire. The large group of insurgents attempted to out-maneuver the combined force and moved into a trench line.
Moments later, the combined force fixed the insurgents in their position and used several precision munitions to effectively eliminate the Taliban insurgents who were trying to reinforce the enemy positions.
Coalition forces disrupt Taliban networks
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Seven suspected insurgents were detained Mar. 4 during an operation, which targeted a Taliban leader and disrupted weapons-facilitations operations in Garmser District, Helmand Province.
Coalition forces found and detained seven individuals with suspected links to insurgent networks. The detained individuals will be questioned on their involvement in Taliban weapon-facilitation operations as well as other extremist activities.
