MND-B Soldiers target criminals; 23 killed
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers engaged and killed 23 criminals in separate engagements in Baghdad March 28.
Soldiers from 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), killed one criminal in northeastern Baghdad after seeing the individual with a rocket propelled grenade launcher in an alleyway during a patrol.
At approximately 4 p.m., a 3rd BCT, 4th Infantry Division vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in northeastern Baghdad. A number of criminals then fired on the soldiers while they attempted to recover the vehicle. Soldiers spotted and engaged two of the attackers, killing them both.
Iraqi security forces and Coalition soldiers were attacked during the early evening at a checkpoint in northwestern Baghdad. An air weapons team was called in to assist the ground force. The air weapons team fired one hellfire missile from the helicopter, targeting 10 criminals who were armed with RPG launchers and automatic weapons. All 10 were killed in the engagement.
Soldiers from 4th BCT, 1st Infantry Div., were attacked with small arms fire in southern Baghdad while on a combat patrol later in the evening. Soldiers returned fire in self defense, killing nine terrorists.
An hour later, a criminal armed with an RPG launcher attacked soldiers from 2-101 Abn. Div., striking an M1A1 Abrams. Soldiers spotted the terrorist and killed him in an exchange of gun fire.
MND-B Soldiers kill 9 supporting ISF
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers supported Iraq Security Forces operations around Sadr City March 28-29.
The two operations resulted in 9 terrorists killed.
During checkpoint inspections at approximately 11 p.m., March 28, militants attacked Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division with small-arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. The Soldiers returned fire and killed seven.
At approximately 1 a.m., Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division identified two roadside bomb emplacers. The Soldiers killed the emplacers in an exchange of gun fire.
Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces patrol attacked; 13 criminal fighters killed
BAGHDAD – A patrol consisting of 8th Iraqi Army Division Scouts and U.S. Special Forces Soldiers was attacked by criminal elements in southeastern Suwayrah March 29. Iraqi and U.S. Forces repelled the attack, killing 13 enemy fighters.
Iraqi and U.S. Forces conducted a presence patrol in Suwayrah. During the patrol, an Iraqi woman approached the patrol and told them a criminal member lived in a nearby house. Iraqi and U.S. Forces searched the house, finding nine rocket propelled grenades and criminal propaganda.
Shortly after continuing their patrol, a U.S. SF Soldier identified six armed individuals exiting a cargo truck, posturing to attack the patrol with RPGs. The U.S. SF Soldier immediately engaged the individuals as Iraqi and U.S. vehicles maneuvered to gain a tactical advantage. At this time, the patrol began to receive small arms and RPG fire from another location.
Iraqi and U.S. Forces continued to maneuver and after a short firefight, neutralized the enemy threat.
Shortly after continuing their patrol, Iraqi and U.S. Forces were again attacked by hostile forces with small arms and RPG fire. The patrol engaged and neutralized the threat.
Approximately 45 minutes later, the patrol received small-arms fire and observed an individual armed with an RPG positioning to attack the patrol. Iraqi and U.S. Forces fired to suppress enemy small arms-fire and the individual with the RPG.
In addition to the 13 enemy fighters killed, two cargo trucks were destroyed.
Iraqi Special Operations Forces engage, kill 22 in Basra
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces engaged and killed several criminal fighters in Basra March 29.
The operation was conducted in support of the Government of Iraq’s efforts to secure and stabilize the city.
The ISOF conducted the operation in a known criminal stronghold in western Basra to disrupt criminal activities and capture criminal leaders.
En route to their target, the ISOF were engaged multiple times by small arms and rocket propelled grenades. Upon arrival at the target, and under fire, the ground assault force entered a building and killed four enemy fighters. Ground forces cleared the structure, finding two women and five children who were unharmed.
While at the target location, ISOF came under enemy fire from ground level and roof-top locations. They killed two enemy fighters on an apartment roof.
While engaged with hostile forces, ISOF and a supporting U.S. Special Forces team identified additional armed criminal elements in the area.
A supporting Coalition forces aircraft identified enemy forces on three roof-tops and engaged with precision gunfire after being cleared by ground forces. Initial reports indicate 16 criminal fighters were killed.
MND-B Soldiers kill 11 in Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers engaged and killed 11 criminals in separate engagements in Baghdad March 29.
An MND-B aerial weapons team killed a criminal after a ground patrol was attacked by SAF in eastern Baghdad at approximately noon.
In another incident, Soldiers from 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Division, killed a criminal fighter after the patrol observed the combatant emplacing a mortar tube in northwestern Baghdad at approximately noon.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, killed a criminal after the patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire in eastern Baghdad.
MND-B Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, killed six criminals after their patrol was attacked by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in eastern Baghdad at approximately 4 p.m.
In an earlier event Soldiers from 4th BCT, 10th Mtn., Div., killed two criminals in eastern Baghdad after their patrol was attacked by small-arms fire at approximately 3:30 pm.
Pirates seized control of a French luxury yacht carrying 30 crew members Friday in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia's coast, the French government and the ship's owner said. 
