Coalition and Iraqi forces continue to set the stage for safe and secure election
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition and Iraqi security forces continued to disrupt al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist and foreign-fighter activities during more than 450 company-level combined operations throughout the country Nov. 26 through Dec 2.
“Fifty percent of the combat operations conducted this past week throughout the Iraqi theatre of operation were combined Coalition and Iraqi security force operations, while another 21 percent were independent Iraqi security force operations,” said Maj. Brandon Robbins, operations officer, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “The ability of the Iraqi Army forces to conduct these combined and independent operations is significant.”
Coalition and Iraqi Security forces located and cleared more than 95 caches during the week, including one of the largest caches to date in which Iraqi and U.S. forces unearthed nearly two tons of explosives outside an abandoned military base near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Four truck-loads of munitions, 4, 222 mortar rounds and more than 950 fuses, were rendered safe as a result.
Additionally, combined forces cleared 160 improvised explosive devices, bringing the total number of IEDs found and cleared during the month of November to more than 650.
Combined forces detained more than 440 anti-Iraqi forces, captured or killed 31 foreign fighters and captured three bomb makers.
Iraqi, U.S. forces launch raid against terrorist ring
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi and Coalition Forces in east Baghdad remained vigilant in the face of numerous acts of terror in east Baghdad Dec. 4.
Iraqi Police and Coalition Forces launched a raid to capture suspected members of a known terrorist ring. Within two hours, six suspects were arrested and are currently being processed into the Iraqi justice system.
“We are continuing an aggressive campaign to capture the terrorists in our zone. The Iraqi Security Forces are doing most of the work and we stand ready to support them when ever necessary,” said Col. Joseph DiSalvo, commander of Coalition Forces in east Baghdad.
Around 7 a.m., a patrol from 3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry discovered an improvised explosive device. The roadside bomb, a surface laid anti-tank mine, was destroyed by an explosive ordnance disposal team. There were no casualties or damage to equipment.
About a half hour later, an Iraqi Army patrol responded to the explosion of a roadside bomb which targeted an Iraqi Police patrol. No injuries or damage were reported.
Elsewhere, a U.S. Army Military Police patrol was attacked with a roadside bomb around 9 a.m. The bomb detonated between two vehicles, resulting in no casualties or damage to equipment.
A half hour later, an American tank on patrol was attacked with a roadside bomb. The bomb missed the tank and no casualties or damage to equipment were reported.
Meanwhile, in the Rusafa area, the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police responded to the site of a roadside bomb attack that was directed against civilians at a marketplace. Six Iraqi civilians were wounded in the attack and were evacuated by Iraqi Security Forces and emergency services to local hospitals for treatment.
Raid results in cache discoveriesTIKRIT, Iraq – A combined cordon and search mission was conducted by Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division and Daquq police, in the village of Simaqa in Kirkuk Province.
The operation yielded four separate weapons caches containing various rockets, mortars, ammunition, bombs and surface-to-air missiles. All the items have been secured by the Iraqi police.
Sixteen people were also detained during the search. They are in the custody of the Iraqi Police as well.
General Casey participates in election conference
Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq – On Tuesday, Dec. 6, the commanding general Multi-National Force – Iraq, General George W. Casey visited Multi-National Division Central South, Camp Echo, Ad Diwaniyah, to discuss the preparations for the upcoming elections.
MNDCS Commanding General Piotr Czerwinski and his staff familiarized the MNF -I commander with security preparations for the election scheduled on Dec. 15th. Casey has been informed about the capabilities of Coalition Forces and ISF as well as the logistics, engineer and combat support designated from MNDCS to provide security during the elections in the Provinces of Diwaniyah, Babil and Wasit.
The governors, chiefs of police and Iraqi Army leaders from these three provinces also participated in the meeting and discussed security matters with the Coalition Forces in attendance.
Casey congratulated conference participants’ good mutual understanding and cooperation in the preparations for the election period in MNDCS’ area of responsibility. He also stressed the very visible growing capability of Iraqi Army.
Ukrainian contingent hands over military equipment for Iraqi Army
AL KUT, Iraq – According to an agreement signed during a Ukrainian/Ministry of Defense visit in Iraq, Ukrainian Soldiers handed over to the 8th Iraqi Army Division military equipment free of charge. The handover ceremony took place Monday, Dec. 5, in Camp Delta, al Kut.
The contract was signed by the Chief of Iraqi General Staff and the Ukrainian government company UKRSPECECSPORT representatives.
Iraqi Army units received 17 armored vehicles and 56 transport vehicles. Moreover, Ukrainian Soldiers provided 526 sets of small arms (including a grenade launcher), heavy machine guns, pistols, submachine guns and shells, 225 sets of signal equipment and 176 sets of engineering equipment.
Also turned over were more than 2,400 devices and equipment for artillery armaments, approximately 729 sets of spare parts for numerous types of vehicles and 2,100 sets of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) equipment.
The aforementioned equipment will significantly improve the combat capabilities of the 8th Iraqi Army Division in securing its area of responsibility.
Saddam Hussein nephew receives long prison sentence
BAGHDAD, Iraq – On Dec. 5, a Baghdad court found Aymen Sabawi, Saddam Hussein’s nephew - a former regime insider and once-active terrorist supporter - guilty of illegally crossing the Syrian border without authorization from Iraqi customs.
He received a lengthy sentence in addition to a six-year sentence he received during his September trial when he was found guilty of possession of illegal weapons and manufacture of explosive devices.
It was during his September trial that Sabawi, while testifying, submitted self-incriminating information when he spoke of the illegal border crossing.
Yesterday’s court handed down a 15 year sentence. Combined with the first trial, Sabawi will not be released from the Iraqi prison for more than twenty years.
Aymen Sabawi was apprehended last May by Iraqi and Coalition Forces near Tikrit. Aymen Sabawi’s father, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan al-Tikrit, is the half brother of Saddam Hussein. He was apprehended in late February and remains in custody awaiting trial.
Aymen Sabawi and members of his family played a particularly active role in sustaining the terrorism by providing financial support, weapons and explosives and frequently used neighboring Arab countries as safe havens to plan and launch terrorist attacks.
The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 specifically indicted the Sabawi family for stealing millions of dollars from the Iraqi people during Saddam Hussein’s regime. Officials believe the Sabawi family used these stolen financial assets to fund terrorism and anti-Coalition activities.
Ayman Sabawi’s convictions spotlight the Iraqi government’s fight against terrorists as Sabawi was among the highest ranking members from the former regime to be brought to trial and successfully convicted.
Winter Blunderland
** Saw this and figured it was worthy of a post, especially in PC mad New Britain where every culture is valued except for the British one that is...Major cache uncovered near Tuz
TIKRIT, Iraq – Just a week after a huge cache of mortars was uncovered near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, another large terrorist cache was discovered Tuesday morning near the neighboring city of Tuz.
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, found two storage bunkers crammed with weapons near Forward Operating Base Bernstein, west of the city.
More than 400 rockets of various types and 80 mortar rounds were discovered in the bunkers. Mortars and rockets, along with IEDs, are the preferred weapons of terrorist against civilian populations and military forces because they allow them to conduct attacks and then run away from the launch sites without having to face Iraqi or Coalition Forces.
Seventy cases of small arms ammunition, 100 artillery fuses, and a dozen rocket-propelled grenade warheads were also stashed in the bunkers.
An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to inspect the weapons and conducted a controlled detonation to destroy the cache.
Another weapons cache was seized in Kirkuk Dec. 6, after police received a tip from a local resident. Rockets, mortars, tank rounds, anti-aircraft rounds and artillery fuses were taken by Soldiers from 1st BCT and an EOD team for disposal.
Iraqi, U.S. forces catch four suspected bomb makers
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Four suspected terrorists were detained during a joint operation conducted by Iraqi Security Forces supported by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Dec. 4 south of Baghdad in the Yusufiyah area.
Information gathered from an earlier mission led the Coalition Forces to the whereabouts of major contributors to anti-Iraqi attacks and terrorist activity.
When the Soldiers of Task Force Baghdad conducted a raid on an island on the Euphrates River Nov. 28, the troops detained two suspected terrorists, gained valuable intelligence, and uncovered three significant weapons caches consisting of 11 500-pound bomb shells, welding material, suicide vests and an improvised explosive device manufacturing area.
Two detainees provided information on two other locations that supported vehicle-borne IED and suicide vest production cells in the Yusufiyah area.
Based on this information, two simultaneous cordon and searches were conducted.
The combined efforts of the Iraqi Special Forces, supported by U.S. aircraft, resulted in the capture of four suspected terrorists and a significant weapons cache.
“Iraqi Army units are stepping up and becoming a very effective fighting force,” said Col. Todd Ebel, commander of 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Div. “Today’s destruction of these IED-making facilities is a great step in providing support to the upcoming elections.”
Citizens help U.S. forces take terrorists off streets
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Task Force Baghdad Soldiers captured four terror suspects and discovered a large weapons cache during a series of operations in the Al Rashid district Dec. 4.
U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment conducted a raid in western Rashid based on information provided by local Iraqis. The raid resulted in the capture of two individuals.
In another mission, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon and search in eastern Rashid, resulting in the capture of two individuals and a sizable weapons cache. The weapons cache consisted of five AK-47 assault rifles, seven AK-47 magazines, six SKS automatic weapons, one Russian machine gun and 20 100-pound bags of aluminum sulfate.
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