More Iraq Bits

Iraqi firefighters turn in ordnance to U.S. troops

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Firefighters from the Rusafa Fire Station in east Baghdad turned over more than 200 rounds of unexploded ordnance to elements of Task Force Baghdad for destruction Dec. 1.

The firefighters gave 65 artillery rounds and 143 mortar rounds to elements of 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery.

This is a continuing effort and partnership between the leadership of the Rusafa Fire Station and 1st Bn., 9th FA to rid the area of unexploded ordnance and denying terrorists potential bomb-making material.

"On Nov. 3, we secured a slightly smaller, but still significant, load of munitions in the same location. I am glad to be working with the firefighters here to make the community safer for everyone -- especially the children who like to play in areas where much of the unexploded ordnance still remains," said Maj. Jay Sawyer, operations officer for 1/9 FA.

“The most exciting aspect to me is that the Iraqi citizens provide the Iraqi Security Forces and Fire Departments with the location of unexploded ordnance they find in their neighborhoods,” Sawyer added. “The people want their communities safer and they look to the Iraqi government to provide that safety.”

All of the ordnance was later destroyed by a U.S. explosive ordnance disposal team.

Terrorist video claiming to be attack that killed 10 Marines is false

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq — A video posted to a terrorist website and aired by some media organizations purporting to show the improvised explosive devise attack that killed 10 U.S. Marines Dec. 1 is disinformation. The circumstances of the IED attack near Fallujah do not match those shown on the video. While we are unable to discern if the video is authentic, the statement claiming that the video shows the Dec. 1 IED attack near Fallujah is false.

Suspected bomb makers captured

TIKRIT, Iraq -- Six terror suspects were detained in As Siniyah Dec. 2 after a concerned resident informed police about a vehicle-borne IED being built nearby.

Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team conducted a raid on the site and searched the suspects’ vehicle. Two AK-47s, a sniper rifle, bomb-making materials and $5,300 in U.S. currency were seized.

Two of the six suspects tested positive for explosives residue, though no explosives were found at the site.

In a separate action near Balad, five other terrorist suspects were detained Dec. 3. Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st BCT spotted them preparing an IED site by softening up the asphalt with burning gas and then digging into the roadbed.

Near the eastern city of As Sadiyah, another terrorist found himself on the receiving end of his own bomb when the IED he was attempting to emplace detonated prematurely. The bomber was killed by the blast.

Terrorist attack backfires

TIKRIT, Iraq – Army and Air Force units teamed up to crush an ill-conceived terrorist attack against an Army patrol near Balad the morning of Dec. 3.

The attack began with a hail of small-arms fire directed against the patrol. The Soldiers quickly located and engaged the gunmen, forcing them to take cover. The patrol called for close-air support and two Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons responded by dropping laser-guided bombs. Two terrorists were killed in the short engagement.

One Soldier was treated at the scene for minor injuries and returned to duty.

Iraqi and U.S. forces detain 18 suspected terrorists

TIKRIT, Iraq – Eighteen terrorists were taken off the streets Dec. 1 as Iraqi and U.S. forces continue to hunt down and detain terrorists hiding in the north-central region of Iraq.

Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team apprehended two terrorists near Daquq after watching them attempt to emplace an IED. The IED detonated as the men were placing it, injuring both men. The terrorists were taken to a local hospital, where one later died of his wounds form the IED.

The Soldiers searched the terrorists’ vehicle and found a second IED the terrorists had planned to emplace. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in and detonated the IED safely, destroying it and the vehicle.

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division conducted a search of the Dali Abbas market neat Al Muqdadiyah to eliminate an IED cell operating in the area. Ten suspected terrorists were detained.

Another 2-5 IA unit detained two men in a raid near Baqubah Dec. 1. The suspected terrorists were taken for questioning.

Task Force 5-7 Cavalry troopers detained four terrorists near Balad after catching them with IED-detonating devices early Dec. 1.

Kidnapping victims rescued during vehicle search

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Task Force Baghdad Soldiers rescued two kidnapping victims during a routine vehicle search at a checkpoint Dec. 1 in western Baghdad.

Around 6 p.m., Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division found two Iraqi civilians bound and gagged in the trunk of a white sedan.

The two individuals claimed they had been taken hostage and were to be murdered. They were employees for an American contractor.

The driver of the car and a passenger had false Iraqi Police badges and were carrying pistols. Both individuals were detained and are currently in custody.

The two kidnap victims were released.

Task Force Baghdad patrol destroys weapons cache

TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division discovered a sizeable weapons cache while performing combat operations north of Baghdad Dec. 1.

Soldiers of 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment were conducting a cordon-and-search operation when they found the cache. The Task Force Baghdad troops unearthed five rocket-propelled grenade launchers and ammunition. They also found 22 mortar rounds, eight artillery shells ranging in size from 16 mm to 60 mm, seven rockets of varying sizes, a wire-guided anti-tank missile, 200 rounds of machine-gun ammunition and various bomb-making components.

The Soldiers secured the munitions and a military explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed them at the site.

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