BAGHDAD, Iraq – Task Force Baghdad dispatched elements to the scene where two terrorists attempting to build a car bomb were killed when the device prematurely detonated in central Baghdad Nov. 2. Elements dispatched included an explosives ordnance disposal team and a patrol from 6th Squadron, 8th Calvary Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.
The explosion also killed an Iraqi civilian and set a nearby house on fire. Iraqi firefighters responded to douse the flames.
The EOD team determined the terrorists had been building the vehicle-carried improvised explosive device using a 122 mm projectile, ball bearings and about 80 pounds of homemade explosives. ** KER SPLATTTTT!!!!!!!!!! (Memo to Allah need some virgins....)
RAMADI, Iraq – Iraqi Army troops and Coalition engage terrorists and seized a cache during firefight Nov. 2 northeast of Ramadi.
Troops from the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division and Coalition forces engaged a group of 15 terrorists armed with AK-47s and RPG launchers when their patrol was attacked. Troops killed several terrorists during the engagement.
A vehicle loaded with a cache of ordnance was discovered in the vicinity of the initial attack. An inventory produced one machine gun, two automatic rifles, two RPG launchers, over 1,200 rounds of various small arms ammunition, 10 propellant sticks, two license plates, three Iraqi Army uniforms and some documents.
The contraband was turned over to authorities for further processing.
No injuries to Iraqi or Coalition troops were reported.
Terrorists killed in Husaybah air strike identified
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces identified five al-Qaida leaders killed by an air strike in Husaybah Oct. 29.
Coalition Forces conducted a series of raids on suspected terrorist and foreign fighter safe houses to capture or kill terrorists operating in the town of Husaybah. During the raids, Coalition forces destroyed three safe houses with air strikes using precision guided munitions.
One of the safe houses destroyed was the location of an apparent meeting between al Qaida in Iraq (AQIZ) terrorist leaders from the Husaybah and Al Qaim areas.
Coalition Forces now confirm the deaths of five key al Qaida in Iraq (AQIZ) terrorist leaders who were killed in that meeting. They are:
* Abu Asil, a North African terrorist, was the senior AQIZ foreign fighter facilitator in the Al Qaim region and an associate of Zarqawi. His influence stretched across Al Anbar province and he was relied upon to provide foreign fighters and suicide bombers to AQIZ terrorist cells in the region. Asil had contacts throughout the Middle East who were involved in the recruiting, transportation, training and smuggling of foreign fighters and suicide bombers into Iraq.
* Abu Raghad, a senior AQIZ foreign fighter terrorist cell leader who operated in the Husaybah area. He was responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing attacks against coalition forces. Those attacks include the emplacement of IEDs and mines and the facilitation, production and use of VBIEDs.
* Abu Talha, an AQIZ terrorist cell leader in the Ubaydi area. Talha directed, planned, coordinated and executed terrorist attacks in and around Ubaydi. Specifically, Talha’s cell was responsible for the production, and emplacement, and implementation of IED and VBIED attacks in the area.
* Abu Usama and Abu Salman, AQIZ terrorist cell leaders in the Husaybah area who were active in carrying out local terrorist attacks. Besides planning and conducting terrorist attacks, they procured weapons such as rockets, anti-aircraft missiles and mines for use against coalition forces. The weapons then would be distributed to their terrorist cells to be used in attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces.
U.S. forces find, destroy several large weapons caches
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers found several weapons caches during combat operations Nov. 3-4 in and around Baghdad.
The stockpiles of weapons and munitions—now taken out of terrorists’ hands—include rockets, homemade bombs, mortars, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, grenades and ammunition.
Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division discovered the largest cache west of Baghdad shortly before noon Nov. 3.
The cache included 2,000 7.62-mm rounds, 15 RPG rounds, three 57-mm rockets (and a launcher), eight 80-mm rounds, two mortar base plates, a mortar sighting device and an 18-inch homemade bomb.
Soldiers also discovered a second cache, which consisted of 33 81-mm rounds, 26 RPG rounds, 17 60-mm rounds, eight 57-mm rounds, three mortar base plates, two fragmentation grenades, two 120-mm rounds and about 300 7.62-mm rounds.
An explosives ordnance disposal team destroyed both caches through controlled detonation procedures.
In southeast Baghdad, Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team noticed five suspicious individuals near a banana factory around 7 p.m. Nov. 3. During a search Soldiers found 19 grenades, 11 AK-47 assault rifles, eight RPG rounds, five sticks of dynamite, four blasting caps, three pistols, two RPG launchers, two RPK machine guns, a sniper rifle, detonation cord and a mortar sight. The five terror suspects were detained for further questioning. An EOD team recovered the cache.
Northwest of Baghdad, a patrol from 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division discovered a cache of 10 200-pound bombs, 25 152-millimeter rounds, three 122-millimeter rounds and a 130-millimeter round. The munitions were destroyed in a controlled detonation by an EOD team.
Around 7 a.m. Nov. 4 another 3rd Bde., 1st Armored Div. patrol found a cache in west Baghdad. This cache included 76 .50-caliber bullets, four rocket launchers, five mortar tubes and a sniper rifle.
** Finally our legal system may be ass, but now and again it gets it right - found this in the Telegraph...A blatant attempt to extract money from the British Army had been made by the Marsh Arabs of Ferkah, the court martial heard.
They had colluded, lied and frequently spoke of "fasil" - bloody money - and compensation when they appeared to give evidence.
The Judge Advocate General, Jeff Blackett, said they had made specious claims of improper behaviour including allegations that a baby and an old man had been killed by the British soldiers.
Three women witnesses had admitted making up claims that they were assaulted by the soldiers and the family of the dead man, 18-year-old Nadhem Abdullah, had encouraged other villagers to tell lies about the incident.
Fourteen witnesses had been brought from their homes in Iraq to give evidence to the court but much of their evidence was "too inherently weak or vague for any sensible person to rely on it" and it had been based on "a corporate recollection discussed by the family or tribe", said Judge Blackett.
The first witness, Athan Finjan Saddam who, like every witness took an oath on the Koran, was the driver of the 1986 Toyota truck at the centre of the incident. He claimed to have been so badly beaten that he was knocked unconscious for "two or three days".
Mr Saddam demanded compensation for his injuries, damaged car and the two-and-a-half years he had allegedly been kept out work.
"I am requesting millions," he told the court, while also admitting that he had asked for cash to make a witness statement.
Judge Blackett said it was "an affront to common sense" to conclude that the damage to his car could have been caused by boots and helmets or that he had been knocked unconscious in the attack.
After giving evidence Mr Saddam was driven, with a military escort, to join the other witnesses at a specially refurbished Army married quarters in Woodbridge, Suffolk.
The Iraqis were given food, free cigarettes and £56 a day expenses, while at weekends they were taken on sight-seeing trips during their two-week stay. One woman witness had brought two of her children to Britain and demanded the £56 allowance for each of them, but this was refused. A key female witness, Dalal Finjan, the sister of the driver, had given birth three days before the alleged incident.
She had claimed a paratrooper had punched her in the face and other soldiers had torn her clothes off.
She told investigators the assault had lasted an hour, during which the soldiers took breaks to clap and cheer as colleagues took over.
But, under oath, she told the court: "I lied. The soldiers did not tear my clothes. I did it because my heart was burning. Please forgive me for lying."
Sougheir Khalaf Toama, 51, a cousin of Mr Saddam, alleged he had suffered serious kidney damage as a result of the beatings. But when cross-examined he admitted lying in order to get compensation to pay for an operation to remove stones in both kidneys.
His brother, Kasim, showed scarring and stitch marks on his left arm, which he claimed was a wound caused by being hit with a helmet.
But after giving evidence he was sent for a medical examination which established that it was an old injury suffered between six months and a year before the alleged incident.
One defence lawyer called him a "proven liar and chancer".
Even before cross-examination Kareema Lefta, 44, admitted: "I said before I was injured - I was not." She later admitted they had all made up claims in their statements to the Military Police.
Samira Rishek told the court she agreed to travel to Britain to give evidence after being told she would receive $100 a day. In interviews she had claimed to be pregnant when allegedly beaten up by the soldiers but later admitted this was untrue.
She said: "I was not hit. In my tribe it is a matter of shame to be found out telling lies. I am ashamed of it. I regret it. I have no explanation for why I lied."
An Iraqi policeman, Bunnaiain Sari Moutlak, who admitted lying to investigators, said: "Nadhem's family told me that if I gave an accurate account of what happened their son would not be compensated." ** Oh well nice try, just a shame that our soldiers had to waste their time in court for their lies. Still now they have missed out on the huge compensation payout, guess its back to abusing goats...
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