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Task Force Baghdad Soldiers nab 28 suspected terrorists
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Task Force Baghdad Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division detained 28 suspected terrorists in two separate incidents during continuous operations south of Baghdad Dec. 8-9.
The Soldiers of C Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment nabbed 17 individuals Dec. 9 after they were identified by an informant to be associated with terrorist activity.
The capture began while the unit was conducting a cordon and search. Alert Soldiers observed three suspicious men in a nearby field who appeared to be in an overwatch position.
A patrol was sent to question the three individuals. As the Soldiers approached, the suspects jumped up and ran away in two groups. Coalition Forces engaged two of the men, killing them.
One of the other terrorists ran into a nearby house. Soldiers from C Co. immediately searched the home, capturing the one individual who ran away, plus an additional 16 suspected terrorists.
In another incident, Soldiers from D Company, 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Reg. detained 11 suspected terrorists after stopping two vehicles in the early evening hours of Dec. 8.
The Soldiers were conducting a patrol south of Baghdad when they stopped two suspicious vehicles containing eight individuals. Upon further investigation of the vehicles, the Soldiers discovered multiple cell phones, AK-47 assault rifles, and two 120-millimeter rounds rigged as improvised explosive devices.
Six of the individuals were detained but two men ran into a nearby house. The patrol conducted a cordon and search of the house and found an additional three individuals inside. Soldiers detained all five suspects, plus the other six.
An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the scene to inspect the vehicles. The EOD team confirmed the cars were being used to transport and emplace IEDs. One vehicle was destroyed by EOD, and the other was confiscated by the Iraqi Army.
U.S. Soldiers find bomb in house, detain 4 terrorists
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Task Force Baghdad Soldiers discovered a house containing an improvised explosive device and detained four suspected terrorists in separate incidents Dec. 10 as U.S. forces continued operations designed to ensure a safe environment for the upcoming national elections.
During a routine patrol of an area south of Baghdad, the Soldiers of B Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division inspected an abandoned house and discovered the homemade bomb, which consisted of a 5-foot pipe filled with explosives.
An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the site to assess the situation. The bomb experts conducted a controlled detonation, eliminating the threat to Iraqi civilians, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces.
Earlier in the day, Soldiers from A Battery, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment detained two terrorists after conducting a search of their home. When the Soldiers searched the suspected terrorists’ house, they found two AK-47 assault rifles with loaded magazines and a 12-gauge shotgun.
Two more terrorists were detained by D Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Inf. Reg. after an explosion was heard in their area of operation.
Upon investigation, the troops discovered an IED had prematurely detonated. The patrol conducted a search of the area, resulting in the capture of two suspected triggermen.
Iraqi Soldiers seize weapons cache, detain 4 terrorists
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Searching house to house through a neighborhood in west Baghdad, Iraqi Soldiers discovered a bomb-making facility and a weapons cache Dec. 12.
Acting on a tip from an Iraqi citizen, Soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers discovered the cache, which included a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a homemade grenade launcher, one 152 mm artillery round, three 107 mm artillery rounds, 25 120 mm artillery rounds, one 62 mm mortar round, 13 RPG rounds, two RPG fuses, three hand grenades, two crater charges, six sticks of C4 plastic explosive, a sniper rifle, one RPK machine gun, a stun gun, hundreds of feet of detonation cord, more than a dozen timing devices and assorted terrorist propaganda.
Iraqi Soldiers recovered all the items and cleared the site.
Election conference educates women of Baghdad
BAGHDAD, Iraq – More than 100 Iraqi women showed up at the Al Rashid District Council building Dec. 10 to learn all they could about the upcoming national elections.
Topics covered by Khazal Chassib Augla, a Master Trainer of an Iraqi non-governmental organization, included the progress of the Iraqi government, the right to vote, the voting process and what to look for in a particular candidate.
Task Force Baghdad Soldiers from A Company, 425th Civil Affairs Battalion helped organize the conference and were on hand to observe the proceedings.
The last part of the seminar was a question-and-answer period where Augla fielded various inquiries from the women in the audience.
This was the second elections-based conference hosted by the al Rashid Women’s and Children’s Committee in the past three months. The first was held Oct. 3 prior to the vote on the Constitutional Referendum.
U.S., Iraqi forces keep Baghdad streets safe for election
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Task Force Baghdad Soldiers and Iraqi Security Forces detained 13 suspected terrorists and located a weapons cache during pre-election operations in the capitol city Dec. 9-10.
Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment captured three suspected terrorists during a cordon-and-search operation Dec. 9.
During two different operations Dec. 10, 3rd Bn., 7th Inf. Soldiers detained six additional suspects and seized a weapons cache which included six AK-47 assault rifles, 13 AK-47 magazines, one bag of money and a hand grenade.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment also conducted an assault operation which led to the capture of three suspects in the Dora neighborhood Dec. 9.
In other operations, Iraqi forces assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Public Order Brigade detained one suspected terrorist in eastern Rasheed Dec. 9.
IRRF rebuilds Iraq’s aging school system
Story and photo by Claude D. McKinney
Gulf Region North
U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
It has been said that the key to ensure a country’s future is to educate the children. The truth of that will be tested in Iraq over the next generation.
A major effort is underway to renovate Iraq's aging schools in the seven northern provinces.
Under the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund, 324 schools will be refurbished or rebuilt.
“More than 58,000 children have been affected,” said Pradip Patel, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers program manager. “Students will be able to study in clean, painted classrooms, use new toilet facilities and new water fountains, and play in newly constructed playgrounds surrounded by perimeter walls. These renovated facilities will definitely motivate students and teachers to focus on classroom activities.”
Workers added new rooms to many of the existing buildings and improved electrical service.
“The children are happy,” said Patel. “These renovated schools will help the students... become good citizens and in the future lead the country down a path of peace and prosperity.”
Six new schools being built from the ground up in communities which had not seen a school expansion for decades.
Photo: Students flow out of a renovated high school in Dahuk, one of 324 projects done through the Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund.
Iraqi flag raised in a secure Husaybah
Story by Spc. Rick Rzepka
Scimitar Assistant Editor
Gen. George Casey, Multi-National Force - Iraq commanding general, along with Saadoun al-Dulaimi, Iraq MOD, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Ali Muhsin Al-Khafaggi, deputy MOI supporting
forces, and Marine Col. Stephen W. Davis watched as the Iraqi flag was raised by Iraqi Soldiers in the dusty town, which was cleared of insurgents as part on an effort to stop
the flow of terrorists across Iraq’s borders, Operation Steel Curtain.
“This is a historic day for Iraq,” said al-Dulaimi on the success of the border operations. “I will not forget this day. The insurgents are no longer controlling the border. Our
friends have helped us. We are now a country of freedom, of human rights and of peace.”
As a platoon of MOD Iraqi Soldiers and a platoon of MOI ‘Desert Wolves’ stood under one flag, the cooperation and resolve of the respective ministries was apparent.
“Today signifies the ability of MOI and MOD to work together,” said Marine Col. Mike Pannell, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. “They should be
able to operate independently by June 2006.”
The progress in securing Iraq’s borders is a significant step toward victory in Iraq, said Davis.
“Presence equals security,” said Davis, the Regimental Combat Team 2 commanding officer. “This will bring stability to the region. Operation Steel Curtain has neutralized the
insurgent’s presence and activities in the region, while Iraqi forces have established a permanent presence throughout the Euphrates River valley. I am encouraged by the progress to date. Together we are marching forward to provide greater security, as Iraq rejoins the world of nations.”
Since border operations began, Iraqi and Coalition forces have cleared and secured former enemy controlled areas. In a speech on the same day, President Bush pointed to
the need for enhanced security along Iraq’s borders. “Many (of the terrorists) are foreigners who are coming to fight freedom’s progress in Iraq,” said the President.
“This group includes terrorists from Saudi Arabia and Syria and Iran and Egypt and Sudan and Yemen and Libya and other countries.
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