Good News From The War On Terror 3/8-10
Al-Qaeda targeted, weapons caches destroyed; five killed, 26 detained
BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed five terrorists, detained 26 suspects and found several weapons caches Saturday and today during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks operating in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition forces conducted an operation northwest of Samarra today, targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader involved in propaganda operations for the network in al-Anbar province. The suspect is believed to be associated with several AQI leaders, including foreign terrorists operating outside of Iraq.
As Coalition forces arrived in the area, they received enemy fire from four individuals they observed departing the target building and moving into a nearby field. Responding in self-defense, the ground force engaged, killing the four armed terrorists. As they secured the area where the terrorists were located, the ground force found various equipment and weapons, including four military style assault vests, machine guns, ammunition and magazines, bomb-making materials and medical supplies.
The ground force moved to a nearby building and discovered a large weapons cache that included machine guns, rockets, grenades, numerous magazines and ammunition, mortars, improvised explosive device materials and initiators, detonation cord, ball bearings, military-style assault vests, medical supplies, and various other military hardware items. A vehicle found in the target area also contained numerous AQI propaganda materials. During their final sweep of the area, Coalition forces found another weapons cache and a building with several false floors containing weapons and ammunition. Once the area was clear, Coalition forces called supporting fixed-wing aircraft to conduct precision airstrikes, destroying two buildings, two vehicles and the two weapons caches to prevent further use for terrorist activities.
In Mosul Saturday and today, Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists, including an alleged leader involved in the AQI network operating on the east side of the city. The suspect is reportedly associated with several senior leaders of the AQI network in the region, to include Abu Yasir al-Saudi, also known as Jar Allah, the former Saudi AQI leader and foreign terrorist facilitator killed Feb. 27.
As Coalition forces began to enter the target building, they encountered a terrorist armed with a suicide vest. The ground force evacuated before the terrorist detonated his vest, killing himself, but causing no harm to Coalition forces. The ground force continued to clear the area and found a vehicle loaded with several weapons, which they destroyed on site to prevent further use for terrorist activity. Also in Mosul, another three suspects were detained during a separate operation targeting a senior leader for the city's AQI network.
Northeast of Balad this morning, Coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists while targeting an alleged explosives facilitator connected to the Baghdad AQI network. Coalition forces also discovered 30 bags of Urea, a common precursor for homemade explosive materials, in one of the target buildings, which was safely destroyed, along with a vehicle allegedly used for terrorist activity. Nearby, another four suspects were detained during an operation Saturday targeting an alleged AQI associate involved in the facilitation of foreign terrorists and smuggling weapons and IED materials.
Coalition forces detained another 10 suspects today near Taji, during an operation targeting an alleged associate of the senior leader for the northern belt AQI network.
MND-B Soldiers seize weapons cache in Tarmiyah
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized weapons and munitions during ongoing operations in Tarmiyah, located north of Baghdad, March 8.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, seized the weapons cache near Joint Security Station Tarmiyah.
The munitions seized included SK5 rockets, PG7 rockets, type-69 rockets, 160 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, projectiles, Iraqi hand grenades, and various other munitions and weapons.
An explosive ordnance disposal team performed a controlled detonation at the cache site.
MND-B Soldiers detain 3 in Rashid
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers detain three suspected insurgents during operations in the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital March 8.
During the early morning hours, Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, detained the three suspects in West Rashid’s Risalah neighborhood.
One of the men is suspected of numerous indirect fire and improvised-explosive device attacks in the area.
Taliban insurgent networks disrupted in Oruzgan
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Ten suspected insurgents were detained during a Coalition forces operation in Oruzgan Province to disrupt Taliban leadership networks March 8.
Coalition forces searched compounds in the Jawara District targeting a Taliban commander who was conducting anti-government activities.
While conducting their search, Coalition forces found and detained 10 individuals with suspected links to Taliban insurgent networks. The detained individuals will be questioned on their involvement in Taliban operations as well as other extremist activities.
