Good News From The War On Terror 3/24-25
Three terrorists killed, eight suspects detained in operations targeting al-Qaeda
BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained eight suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq in central and northern parts of the country Sunday and Monday.
Coalition forces continued to attack the al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – propaganda network today, conducting two related operations in the Tigris River Valley. The ground force detained a targeted suspect during a precision operation west of Samarra and another suspected terrorist during an operation in Tikrit. When the ground force entered the target building in Tikrit, an armed man attempted to engage them. Responding to the hostile threat, Coalition forces killed the armed terrorist.
During two operations on the west side of Baghdad Monday, Coalition forces captured an alleged associate of AQI senior leaders and five additional suspected terrorists. Another wanted individual engaged the ground force with small arms fire during the second operation. Coalition forces, responding to the hostile threat, returned fire and killed the armed terrorist.
Coalition forces targeted an associate of known AQI terrorists in the Hamrin Mountains Sunday and engaged an armed man who, despite warnings from the assault force, refused to surrender. Coalition forces escalated their response to the perceived hostile threat and engaged the armed man, killing him.
Coalition forces engage suspected IED emplacers in Basra
BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed five suspected improvised explosive device emplacers and wounded several others after 10 individuals were spotted conducting suspicious activity in the Al Hyyaniyah District, Basra at approximately 11: 45 p.m. March 24.
After verifying the individuals were burying what appeared to be an IED, Coalition forces directed aerial fires against the enemy force.
Apache crews destroy enemy rocket-launching rails– Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad attack helicopter crews destroyed 10 rocket-launching rails northeast of Baghdad that enemy forces had been using to launch rocket attacks March 23.
Apache helicopter crews from 4th “Longknife” Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Task Force XII, reported seeing rockets launched from the area earlier that evening.
Upon arrival at the suspected point of origin of the attacks, the air crews discovered the launching rails and requested clearance to destroy them. Upon receiving clearance, the crews cleared the area, fired on the rails and destroyed all 10 targets.
There was no other damage as a result of destroying the targets.
CF kills 4 suspected AQI members in Diyala Province
TIKRIT, Iraq – Multi-National Division – North soldiers killed at least four suspected al -Qaeda in Iraq members, wounded one, and detained eight during two different engagements March 23 in Diyala Province.
During an Iraqi Army-led clearing operation in Qasaibah, near Muqdadiyah, an MND-N Apache helicopter fired on an enemy ambush position, killing three.
Two more suspected terrorists fled the area and were again engaged by an Apache air weapons team.
MND-N soldiers killed one insurgent and wounded another during an operation targeting a known AQI safe house. Soldiers of 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., also detained eight suspected AQI terrorists at the safe house.
Coalition forces detain 28 suspected al-Qaeda terrorists
BAGHDAD – Coalition forces detained 28 suspected terrorists during several operations Monday and today in critical al-Qaeda in Iraq regions.
Coalition forces captured a wanted individual and eight additional suspected terrorists during coordinated operations in Mosul Monday and this morning. The wanted individual identified himself to the ground force and is believed to be a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – leader responsible for directing anti-Iraqi attacks in the area. He was also allegedly associated with Abu Yasir al-Saudi, also known as Jar Allah, who was killed during Coalition operations Feb. 27.
Elsewhere, in a series of operations in Baghdad Monday, Coalition forces followed intelligence tips to the location of two other wanted suspects, ultimately capturing them. One of the suspected terrorists is believed to be a senior member of the AQI propaganda network and reportedly has foreign terrorist contacts. The capture of the first suspected terrorist led Coalition forces to the location of the second, who is believed to have ties to foreign fighters in Iraq. Two additional suspected terrorists were detained during the operations. Another operation in Baghdad today captured an individual who is allegedly part of a cell that finances AQI and other extremist groups.
Coalition forces captured two alleged associates of AQI senior leaders and two additional suspects during related operations this morning in al-Amiriyah and Mosul. During another operation today south of Sharqat, Coalition forces detained 10 suspected terrorists while targeting links between the AQI networks of Mosul and Kirkuk.
11 detained after mortar attack on FOB Falcon
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Eleven suspected criminals were detained by Coalition and Iraqi Army forces March 21, four kilometers south of Forward Operating Base Falcon.
Those detained are suspected to be a part of a criminal cell responsible for a mortar attack directed at FOB Falcon earlier in the day.
Pilots from the Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division provided air support to soldiers on the ground after the attack and witnessed a truck, believed to be carrying the mortar team, moving from the probable point of origin to a section of houses about a half-kilometer to the west.
Coalition and Iraqi security forces searched 14 houses in the area, resulting in the detention of 11 suspected criminals.
Coalition forces disrupt Taliban operations in Nangarhar
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Coalition forces conducted an operation March 23 to degrade Taliban command and control networks in Nangarhar Province in which two armed insurgents were killed.
Coalition forces performed a search of an area in the Kama district targeting a Taliban sub-commander responsible for facilitating anti-coalition activities. The targeted individual is also associated with improvised explosive device operations.
Two armed insurgents were killed during the course of the operation.
Coalition forces also took several precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the area’s residents.
ANSF, CF disrupt terrorist network in Kandahar
KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces assisted by Coalition forces, detained seven suspected Taliban facilitators March 23, in Zhari District, Kandahar Province.
Information, provided by concerned Afghan citizens, led the combined force to a compound suspected of housing the militants. During the search, security forces detained the suspected facilitators of the terrorist organization in Zhari District. Intelligence indicates the suspected insurgents have significant ties to the planning and detonation of improvised-explosive devices in Kandahar Province.
Intelligence reports also indicated the suspected facilitators were actively engaged in the transfer of weapons, IEDs and their components throughout Kandahar. The detained individuals will be questioned about their involvement in insurgent operations and other extremist activities.
