Bits From Iraq

Nine terrorists detained in joint missions

TIKRIT, Iraq – Two joint missions between Iraqi and U.S. forces resulted in the detainment of nine suspected terrorists in north-central Iraq Friday.

A patrol between Iraqi police officers and Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team discovered a small cache of weapons and detained two men in Kirkuk Friday.

The Iraqi police officers noticed one of the men acting suspiciously and questioned him. The patrol escorted the man to his home where they discovered and confiscated the cache of two AK-47 assault rifles, two bolt-action rifles, and hundreds of rounds of sniper-rifle ammunition. The search also turned up a supply of batteries often used in the detonators of IEDs.

Another joint mission between the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team resulted in seven terrorists taken into custody near Baqubah.

Five of the seven were known terrorists who were the target of the raid. The other two men tested positive for explosives residue and were detained for questioning.

Iraqi, U.S. forces disrupt terrorist operations

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq Army and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers disrupted terrorist cells, seized weapons caches and stopped several anti-Iraqi forces from carrying out attacks during operations in the city Nov. 14-16.

The Iraqi Army took the lead in a cordon and search designed to ferret out anti-Iraqi forces cell leaders tied to the development, distribution and emplacement of improvised explosive devices. During the operation in Sadr City, the Soldiers from 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 2nd Iraqi Army Brigade, along with U.S. Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, detained 23 individuals and seized weapons, ammunition, and terrorist propaganda materials.

This is just one example of the Iraqi Army’s ongoing presence throughout Baghdad as its Soldiers thwart terrorist activities in local neighborhoods. During the three-day period, Iraqi Army units conducted more than 1,250 patrols.

In another cordon-and-search operation Nov. 15, a platoon from 1st Battalion, 2nd Iraqi Army Brigade nabbed five members of an anti-Iraqi forces cell who were planning an attack on the Italian Embassy in Baghdad. The Iraqi Soldiers also seized two vehicles which the terrorists had planned to use in the attack.

U.S. Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division conducting operations in southwestern Baghdad conducted a knock and search of a house Nov. 15. When the owner appeared reluctant to open a shed on his property, the Soldiers grew suspicious and searched the building. Inside, they found wires, computer parts, timers and 14 magazines for AK-47 assault rifles. The individual was detained for further questioning.

An alert Iraqi Police officer discovered an improvised explosive device in a black bag near a bus stop in west Baghdad Nov. 16. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division responded to the incident. An explosive ordnance disposal team summoned to the scene confirmed the bag contained an anti-tank mine wired to a detonation device. The EOD team recovered the explosives and rendered the area safe.

In other operations, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers captured suspected terrorists who were seen loitering around attack sites.

After a convoy from 1st Bn., 87th Inf. was hit with a small IED in west Baghdad Nov. 15, another Task Force Baghdad unit in the area reported spotting an individual on a nearby roof. The suspect was watching the IED strike and talking on a cell phone. The two U.S. elements joined in a search of a nearby house where they caught the rooftop lurker and detained him for further questioning.

Another Task Force Baghdad unit on patrol on a road west of Baghdad Nov. 15 discovered an IED before it detonated. An EOD team disarmed the device and cleared the site. As they were doing so, Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 11th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 1st BCT, 10th Mountain Div., detained two suspicious individuals who were loitering around the IED site as the EOD team dismantled the device. Military officials later determined they recently handled explosives.

Soldiers from 2nd BCT’s 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry came under attack from small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The Soldiers pursued the attackers, returning their fire and killing three terrorists. The unit searched houses in the area and detained eight suspects. There were no U.S. casualties or equipment damage in the incident.

Soldiers from 2/101st Airborne Div. discovered a weapons cache of 22 60-millimeter mortar rounds and 18 fuses Nov. 15 during a search of a farm in south Baghdad. An EOD team later destroyed the munitions in controlled detonation.

Operation Bruins begins in northern Ramadi

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq – Approximately 150 Iraqi Army soldiers and 300 Marines and Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (2 BCT), 2nd Marine Division began Operation Dhibbah (Bruins) in northern ar Ramadi Nov. 19.

Operation Bruins is part of a series of disruption operations in Ramadi and is designed to set the conditions for successful elections in December. The forces are conducting cordon and searches, blocking off known terrorist escape routes and searching for weapons caches.

Operation Bruins comes on the heels of Operation Panthers which disrupted operations in the Sophia district of eastern Ramadi. During Panthers, 2 BCT discovered weapons caches and detained suspected terrorists. Additionally, Bruins follows the Nov. 17 engagement where 2 BCT successfully repelled a terrorist attack in which 32 terrorists were killed in downtown Ramadi.

The caches found during Operation Panthers, along with the recent capture of three high-value terrorist targets, have been part of continuous disruption operations in the Ramadi area.

Attacks against Iraqi and U.S. Forces in the Ramadi area have decreased 60 percent in the last few weeks, as a result of these ongoing operations.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

FOB Danger to be turned over to Iraqi government

TIKRIT, Iraq — Multi-National Forces will turn over control of the former Saddam Hussein Palace Complex here to Iraqi government officials in a ceremony in Tikrit Nov. 22.

“The planned turnover of the complex to the Iraqi Ministry of Finance and the provincial government will be a landmark event highlighting the increased capability of the Iraqi government to administer and govern itself,” said Col. Billy J. Buckner, Multi-National Corps-Iraq spokesman.

The Tikrit complex consists of more than 1000 acres of land situated on a high bluff overlooking the Tigris River. There are 136 buildings on the property, with a combined 1.5 million square feet of administrative and living space, including 18 palaces. Additionally, there are 60 structures located on the complex grounds used for logistic, utility and maintenance functions.

The centerpiece of the complex is the Presidential Palace built by Saddam Hussein for his mother. It is the largest and most elaborate of the presidential sites built by Saddam Hussein. The construction of the facility began in 1991.

Other palaces within the complex were used as residences for select members of the regime and visiting dignitaries. The complex is located about 90 miles north of Baghdad. Saddam Hussein was born April 28, 1937, in al Awja, a small village on the outskirts of Tikrit. Because Saddam was a member of the al Bu Nasir tribe, many of his closest advisors and followers were recruited from the Tikrit area.

Since the spring of 2003, the complex has served as the headquarters for the 4th, 1st and the 42nd Divisions. Earlier this year, the 42nd began the task of vacating the complex.

“Although 28 other coalition operating bases have already been turned over to Iraqi Security Forces control this year, the Tikrit Palace complex is the most significant transition of real estate thus far,” said Buckner.

“Soon this place that was once for only an elite few will be a place for the Iraqi People. Instead of representing how one man used Iraq’s wealth, it will represent how Iraq’s wealth can be used for its people,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, 42nd Infantry Division commander, summarizing the future turnover during his remarks at the 42nd ‘s transition of authority ceremony with the 101st Airborne Division Nov. 1.

Donations help disabled children

TIKRIT, Iraq — On Sunday, Nov. 20 Multi-National Division Central - South Soldiers donated wheelchairs, clothes, shoes and toys for disabled Iraqi children in Ad Diwaniyah province.

All the gifts were donated for Iraqi Disabled Children’s Care Organization in Ad Diwaniyah. MNDCS Soldiers donated more than 200 pounds of clothing, 200 pairs shoes, five wheelchairs, 300 toys for children and a computer for the organization to improve working conditions.

Such actions are often organized by the Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Center (HACC) which is a part of MNDCS. Since August of this year, thanks to HACC’s activities, MNDCS Soldiers donated two tons of clothes, 500 school supplies, 440 pairs of shoes, more than 1,400 pounds of hygienic supplies, 70 cots and more than 50 wheelchairs for disabled people.

In September MNDCS also donated medicines worth $500,000 (U.S.) for hospitals in Ad Diwaniyah. The medicines were provided by the humanitarian organization “Freedom and Peace Trust”. MNDCS humanitarian assistance is usually provided for Iraqi schools, hospitals, old people’s homes, kindergartens and orphanages.

Search of cache turns up more weapons, munitions

BAGHDAD, Iraq — After discovering a large weapons cache Nov. 16, Soldiers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division uncovered even more weapons buried beneath the original cache after a controlled detonation the next day.

The Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment began their search of this site Nov. 15 and the excavation continued through Nov. 18.

While exploiting the site Nov. 17, the Soldiers received information from an Iraqi citizen that there was going to be an attack by Anti-Iraqi Forces on the American forces securing the area.

At 10:30 a.m. Nov. 18, B Troop, 1/75th Cav. conducted a cordon and search of a house identified by the informant, resulting in the capture of five individuals suspected of being the AIF terrorists planning to attack the cache site.

Since the discovery of the original weapons cache, the Soldiers have uncovered an additional three 120-millimeter mortar rounds, 1,000 rounds of 7.62-millimeter ammunition, 60-millimeter mortar system, one 60-millimeter mortar and various homemade explosives.

Coalition Forces identify captured terrorist

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition forces acting on multiple intelligence sources and tips from concerned citizens raided a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist safe house in Baghdad Oct. 31 capturing an al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist named Uthman Faruq Muhammad Abd-al-Hamid (aka Abu Ibrahim). Abu Ibrahim was a technology expert, advisor and supplier to al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists and leaders in Baghdad.

Abu Ibrahim was a computer store owner, a programmer and part owner in an engineering company in Baghdad. Abu Ibrahim admits he supplied hundreds of triggering devices for improvised explosive devices, as well as other technology items, to the al Qaeda in Iraq military commander in Baghdad on multiple occasions. These items include hand-held radios, cellular telephones, wireless telephones, computers, software and computer parts and electronic components.

Abu Ibrahim was also associated with the al Qaeda in Iraq Baghdad propaganda cell. He provided his expertise in the procurement of video equipment, video editing equipment, and computer programs. He was directly connected to the al Qaeda in Iraq propaganda emir and well as other senior terrorists such as Dr. Muhsin, who was detained in June.

Abu Ibrahim also admits to being connected to Abu Hassen who was detained last month. Abu Ibrahim provided Abu Hassen with computers and software to make false identifications. Abu Hassen admitted to making false weapons permits, identification cards and press credentials for various al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists as well as the senior al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist leadership in Baghdad.

These identifications would be used by terrorists to conceal their true identities if stopped by Iraqi Security and Coalition forces. The forgeries also provided a way to openly carry weapons while conducting terrorist activities. These activities could include attacks, kidnappings, and murders. The false identifications would also provide a means of entry as media representatives to various events to reconnoiter them for potential terrorist attacks.

Iraqi woman saved by Iraqi, US Soldiers after shooting

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An Iraqi woman shot by terrorists was saved by Iraqi Army and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers Nov. 19 in the Abu Ghraib area of western Baghdad.

After being hit in a drive-by shooting, the woman was treated by combat medics on the scene from 1st Squadron, 11th Cavalry Regiment, a unit from Fort Irwin, Calif., and immediately evacuated to a local hospital with the help of Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Division.

The woman was shot in the chest with an AK-47 assault rifle fired from a white sedan as it approached a military checkpoint.

The woman is currently in stable condition at the local hospital.

Task Force Baghdad Soldiers detain 3 bomb suspects

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Three suspected terrorists were detained in two separate incidents Nov. 19 by 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division operating in southwest Baghdad.

After striking an improvised explosive device, the Soldiers of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, conducted a hasty cordon and search of the area where they detained one local national positively identified to have been tampering with explosive material. The detainee also had multiple timers, detonators and initiators in his possession.

Later in the day, A Company, 2-101st Brigade Troops Battalion, in support of 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, discovered an IED consisting of a propane tank with a timer attached to it. The patrol secured and searched the area, detaining two individuals who were positively identified to be tampering with explosives.

Soldiers kill one, capture two terrorists

TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Police and Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team responded to a potential IED attack, killing one bomber and injuring two more Nov. 19.

The Soldiers were responding to an IED attack when word of a potential second IED attack was reported. The team quickly shifted their priority to those responsible for the attacks and was able to locate the triggermen as they attempted to escape the area.

The Soldiers chased the attackers into a hastily prepared road block. Once the attackers saw the road block, they tried to turn around and began ramming other civilian vehicles on the road in an attempt to escape the containment area.

Soldiers at the roadblock used several warning measures, attempting to stop the vehicles. When the drivers did not stop, the Soldiers opened fire and stopped both vehicles, killing one and injuring two.

All three men tested positive for explosive residue. A search of the vehicles revealed a large sum of money.

The two wounded terrorists were taken by Iraqi Police to the Bayji hospital for treatment.

Unfriendly Fire - Wonder if these work for the BBC?

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