More Bits From Iraq - More Bits The BBC Try To Avoid

Arrest warrant issued for Iraqi terrorist leader with ties to Zarqawi

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- On Dec. 4, The Iraqi Central Investigating Court in Baghdad issued an arrest warrant for Mullah Halgurd Al-Khabir, a “Jihadist” terrorist commander, suspected of leading the insurgency against Coalition and Iraqi forces. The arrest warrant states that Al-Khabir is wanted for violation of Iraqi Penal Code 194, committing terrorist acts.

Al-Khabir is the senior leader in Baghdad for the Iraqi based terrorist organization Ansar al-Sunna, and has historical ties to al Qaeda terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Khabir replaced the previous commander of Ansar al-Suna, Abdallah Al-Shafi’i, after Shafi’i was killed in December, 2002, in a gun battle with local law enforcement.

Ansar al-Sunna, a terrorist organization with links to terrorists in Syria and Iran, have committed multiple suicide bomb attacks in Iraq that have resulted in the deaths of Coalition Forces, Iraqi Army Soldiers, Iraqi policemen and Iraqi citizens. The majority of these attacks have taken place in Baghdad, Kirkuk and Mosul.

The arrest warrant claims that Al-Khabir, the Emir in Baghdad and regional commander for Ansar al-Sunna, has designed, coordinated and lead attacks “to unsettle the stability and security of Iraq.”

Al-Khabir is the prime suspect in several lethal bombings in Iraq, including the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad in August 2003. That attack killed the top UN envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, 55, from Brazil.

It also killed 21 others and wounded more than one hundred. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan commented that the bombing was an “act of unprovoked and murderous violence.”
Al-Khabir is also the prime suspect in the October, 2003, bombing of Turkey’s embassy in Baghdad. Two people were killed in that attack. Officials also believe Al-Khabir is responsible for the bombing of the Rahimawa police station in Kirkuk, which killed more than a dozen Iraqis and seriously wounded dozens more.

Iraqi and Coalition Forces continue to pursue Al-Khabir in their unwavering effort to ensure he, and all other insurgents and former regime members, is held accountable and punished within the free and democratic Iraqi Judicial System.

Bulgarians end service in MNDCS

CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Bulgarian contingent duty in Multinational Division Central South came to an end Dec. 17.

During the farewell ceremony, MNDCS Commanding General Maj. Gen. Piotr Czerwinski thanked Bulgarian soldiers for their outstanding duty in MNDCS. “I would like to thank you personally and all Bulgarian soldiers who served so far in Iraq,” said Czerwinski. “Your commitment has always been contributing to the success of the Multinational Division.”

During the ceremony, Bulgarian soldiers were awarded by the MNDCS Commanding General and Bulgarian military commanders. Col. Stoyan Bambov, Bulgarian Senior Nation Representative in MNDCS, thanked General Czerwinski, all the MNDCS soldiers and Iraqi Army soldiers for solidarity and friendship during the mission.

For the excellent conditions provided for achieving interoperability, for dedication and commitment, the general was awarded a praise decoration “for faithful service under the colors,” given by Bulgarian Ministry of Defense.

The Bulgarian soldiers were focused on training Iraqi Army, civil-military activities and providing security and protection for convoys and inside Camp Echo base.

In the frames of civil-military cooperation, Bulgarian soldiers helped many Iraqis in the reconstruction process – mostly in Diwaniyah province. They rebuilt schools, created water supplies, electricity facilities and many other projects to improve living conditions for Iraqis. Over the past two years, they completed 175 CIMIC projects worth more than 5 million U.S. dollars.

During the fifth and final rotation, Bulgarian instructors spent more than 500 hours training 8th Iraqi Army Division troops, conducted more than 500 patrols and 227 escorts, providing security for local citizens and MNDCS troops. They provided force protection, participated in quick and crisis reaction forces and in the humanitarian operations.

Major IED manufacturing cache discovered

TIKRIT, Iraq – A large cache of IED components was discovered by Soldiers from Task Force Band of Brothers, Dec. 15 near Hawijah.

A pair of scout helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division spotted several individuals behaving suspiciously and the pilots radioed the location to a nearby patrol from the Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team.

The pilots’ instincts were confirmed when the patrol found a cache buried nearby in several 55 gallon drums.

The cache consisted of 414 two way radios, 48 circuit boards and more than 100 timing devices, all used as components in IED manufacturing. The cache also included small amounts of AK-47 ammunition, detonation cord, batteries and several bomb making manuals.

This is the second time in less than a month that 1st BCT has uncovered a major cache in its area. Soldiers discovered more than 4,200 mortar rounds in a single cache Nov. 27 near Kirkuk.

Local residents aid in cache discoveries

TIKRIT, Iraq – Local citizens played a major role in the discovery of two weapons caches near Kirkuk Dec. 17.

A group of Iraqi citizens captured two suspected terrorists after observing the suspects digging up a cache. The men subdued the suspects and called the Kirkuk Joint Coordination Center, who relayed the information to a nearby patrol.

The combined Iraqi and U.S. patrol responded and secured more than 20 artillery rounds and detained the suspects for questioning.

Another group of Kirkuk residents flagged down a U.S. Air Force patrol and led them to a small cache. The Airmen found two mortar rounds, two rocket-propelled grenade warheads and several anti-aircraft artillery rounds. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the weapons in a controlled detonation.

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