Good News From Iraq - Abu Ayman Captured.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (April 6, 2006) — Multi-National Force - Iraq officials announced the capture of one of Iraq’s most-wanted fugitives, as Iraqi Army battalions take over more of their own battlespace.

Iraqi and Coalition Forces captured Muhammed Hila Hammad Ubaydi, aka Abu Ayman, in the al Mahmudiyah neighborhood in southern Baghdad March 7. Investigators delayed notice of the capture until DNA testing confirmed Abu Ayman’s identity.

Coalition and Iraqi intelligence professionals mounted a major manhunt for the Iraqi terrorist leader who was the former aide to the Chief of Staff of Intelligence during the Saddam Hussein regime. He was the leader of the Secret Islamic Army in the Northern Babil Province and is the prime suspect in the kidnapping of Italian journalist Guiliana Sgrena and for assassination attempts on Iraqi government and security forces officials.

Abu Ayman is also the prime suspect in the kidnapping and killing of several hostages in Iraq and for some of the most-lethal IED attacks on Coalition and Iraqi Forces and on Iraqi citizens since the fall of the regime.

Iraqi and Coalition Forces consider Abu Ayman’s capture a significant event in their pursuit against terrorists and insurgents targeting innocent Iraqis and causing death and destruction throughout the country.

Officials believe Abu Ayman’s capture will not only disrupt attacks and save lives, but will also provide valuable information leading to the capture of other terrorists.

Former regime criminals like Abu Ayman are vestiges of Iraq’s oppressed past, and the new Iraqi Army is making strides toward a new identity as supporting a stable, democratic nation.


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MND-B Soldiers find multiple weapons caches

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized multiple weapons caches south of Baghdad April 5 and April 6.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, discovered a weapons cache while on patrol at approximately 3:10 p.m. April 5.

The cache consisted of 800 82 mm shells, 5,000 7.62 mm rounds, 16 82 mm mortar rounds, 13 60 mm mortar rounds and other assorted munitions.

At approximately 1:15 a.m. April 6, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., found a weapons cache using a metal detector.

The cache contained 23 Sabo penetrators, three boxes of .50-caliber ammunition and two high-explosive artillery primers.

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MND-B Soldiers find cache

FOB KALSU, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers discovered a weapons cache on an inhabited island on the Euphrates River April 5.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, discovered 34 fused 82 mm rounds, five fused 120 mm rounds, 600 mortar casings, six fused rocket-propelled grenades, 28 50-gallon drums of unidentified white explosive powder, eight burlap bags of unidentified yellowish powder, one penetrator and 5,000 AK-47 rounds.

An explosive ordnance disposal team took control of the cache.

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Combined force rescues three hostages

TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Soldiers and Police teamed up to rescue three Iraqi kidnap victims April 5 in Mosul.

A local citizen’s tip led Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, Iraqi police and Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade to a house in Mosul. The combined force entered the house and found three Iraqis chained to the wall of the basement. The joint force freed the hostages. No one was injured during the rescue.

Recent tips from Iraqi civilians have led to the discovery of kidnap victims, suspected terrorists and weapons caches and have shown the increased trust and confidence in the security forces around northern Iraq.

Tags: Terrorism
War On Terror
MNF Iraq
Iraqi Army
Muhammed Hila Hammad Ubaydi
Abu Ayman

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