IRAQ
IRAQI ARMY DETAINS 10 AND SECURES WEAPONS, AMMUNITION
KALSU, Iraq - Iraqi Army Soldiers with the support of Multi-National Division - Baghdad paratroopers conducted a targeted operation that resulted in 10 detainees and the discovery of a weapons cache in south of Baghdad March 9.
Soldiers of 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division with support from 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division captured 10 insurgents near Arab Jabour.
The cache consisted of six AK-47s, 13 AK-47 ammunition magazines, one rifle, U.S. $600, three motorcycles, one ammunition bandolier, several pieces of anti-coalition propaganda, 13 cellular phones, and 39 7.62mm ammunition rounds.
This was the third raid in one month lead by these Iraqi Army personnel as the main effort and coalition forces in support.
The detainees are being held for further questioning.
27 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS CAPTURED THROUGHOUT IRAQ
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained 27 suspected terrorists during operations Friday night and Saturday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitator and al-Qaeda in Iraq networks.
Operations in the vicinity of Taji on Saturday led to one terrorist killed and 18 suspected terrorists detained including an alleged member of the al-Qaeda associated Islamic State of Iraq. The terrorist was killed after he began firing on ground forces.
During a raid Friday night in Mosul, Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists believed to be involved in foreign fighter facilitation and possible involvement in the recent Badush prison break.
Coalition Forces also conducted several raids Saturday morning in Mosul.
One raid targeted terrorists believed to be involved in the distribution of weapons used during an attack on an Iraqi police station in January. Three suspected terrorists were detained in this raid. Another raid led to the detention of two suspected terrorists, one of whom is believed to have direct involvement in the facilitation of foreign fighters into Iraq. Coalition Forces also conducted a raid in Ramadi Saturday morning, detaining one suspected terrorist with alleged foreign fighter ties.
"Coalition Forces continue to systematically disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations, restrict the flow of foreign fighters and reduce the terrorist organization's manpower pool," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.
IA CONDUCTS OPERATIONS AGAINST ROGUE ELEMENTS OF JAM IN SADR CITY
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Special Iraqi Army Forces conducted operations with Coalition advisors Saturday in Sadr City against rogue elements of Jaysh Al-Mahdi allegedly responsible for inciting sectarian violence in Baghdad.
The Iraqi led operation was targeting a rogue element of JAM allegedly responsible for coordinating and carrying out numerous kidnappings and murders of Iraqi civilians. It is also implicated in conducting improvised explosive device attacks targeting Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces in the area.
Iraqi Forces detained six suspects for questioning.
TWO-DAY SECURITY MISSION IN SADR CITY ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN PLAN FOR BAGHDAD SECURITY
BAGHDAD - The implementation of the new security plan for the Iraqi capital took another step as Iraqi and Multi-National Division - Baghdad forces entered the eastern district of Sadr City March 4.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division conducted security operations and spoke with locals to gather information while Iraqi Army troops searched and cleared houses in the section of Sadr City known as "Thawra 2."
"I believe the Strykers were used because of their robust firepower and our experience in the area," said 1st Lt. Jacob Czekanski, a Silver Creek, Mich. native serving with the Company B "Blackhawks," 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. "There is a definite psychological impact when we are on the ground."
The overall objective was to clear and hold the areas while the new joint security station, or JSS, continues construction. The JSS will house coalition and Iraqi security forces and will persist in providing security for Sadr City.
"This was the [Iraqi's] mission, we were just there to give support and provide quality control for them," said Czekanski.
The two-day mission began in the morning March 4 with a meeting of both U.S. and Iraqi commanders on the ground in Sadr City, where final plans were made. Coalition forces linked up with the Iraqi security forces and began the search.
"It's important that the locals here see their own people taking command," said Spc. Kevin Flannery, an infantryman with Company B. "We are only here to give help, if needed."
As Soldiers provided security, the Iraqi troops made their way through the area searching houses for weapons caches and intelligence.
They also questioned the tenants of the homes concerning insurgent activities. After each house was searched, the head of the house was asked to sign documentation stating nothing was broken or stolen from the premises by coalition forces. While the Iraqi security forces were searching and clearing houses, U.S. Soldiers provided security and spoke with locals regarding the state of affairs on the ground. Soldiers spoke with locals, both young and old, in an attempt to better understand how the neighborhood is dealing with illegal activities.
After a quick and thorough search of Sadr City, the first day ended as troops headed back to their base camps.
"This is a very motivated group and they are on track with operations in the city," said Czekanski.
Day two picked up where the previous day left off.
Coalition forces were well received and, in some instances, were invited to enter the homes of some residents. A number of Soldiers conversed with residents over chai, a type of hot tea favored by Iraqis, and were praised for helping the Iraqis take control of the security situation.
The second day ended just as the first - as Iraqi and U.S.troops finished clearing their assigned sectors.
"The [Iraqi Army] is on the right track and we are moving in the right direction," said Spc. Jacob Zamft, an infantryman with Company B.
AFGHANISTAN
PRECISION AIR STRIKES TARGETS TALIBAN WEAPONS FACILITATOR
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN – A precision air strike was conducted Saturday afternoon on a Taliban weapons facilitator in the Gereshk District of Helmand Province.
The purpose of this operation was to destroy a command element of the Taliban terrorist organization which was responsible for facilitating the movement of anti-aircraft weapons in Southern Afghanistan.
The air strike, using precision-guided munitions, targeted the suspected terrorist’s vehicle where he stopped to meet with other suspected terrorists in an isolated area.
A battle damage assessment was still in progress at the time of this release.
ALL
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR MARCH 9
