More Good News From Iraq

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Soldiers discover weapons cache near Tal Afar

TIKRIT, Iraq – Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, discovered a weapons cache near Tal Afar April 1.

After spotting three males loading what appeared to be mortar rounds in their car, the Soldiers engaged the men who fled the scene.

The Soldiers secured the site and discovered weapons and ordnance in the car and bunker consisting of 17 mortar rounds, two AK-47 assault rifles, and two artillery rounds.

All of the items were destroyed by Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldiers.

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Operation Red Light II nets detainees and caches

TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Army and U.S. Soldiers detained 17 anti-Iraqi forces personnel and discovered four weapons caches during Operation Red Light II in Salah Ad Din province March 31.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, teamed with Rakkasans from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division in a combined air and ground assault on suspected terrorist cells.

The four weapons caches consisted of an assortment of IED making material, as well as 27,060 rounds of ammunition, 118 artillery rounds, 102 artillery projectile charges, 31 rockets, 19 rocket-propelled grenades, four surface-to-air missiles, 87 mines, 45 hand grenades, three mortar rounds, one mortar site, and one explosive stick of PE4.

The 17 detainees were taken into custody by Iraqi Army Soldiers for further questioning.

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Iraqi, Coalition Soldiers find weapons cache

BAGHDAD, Iraq – In a combined raid March 30, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, and 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, located a large weapons cache in south Babil province.

The cache consisted of 99 rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

An explosive ordnance disposal team disposed of the weapons.

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Bastogne Soldiers kill and capture insurgents

KIRKUK, Iraq – Bastogne Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division killed two insurgents and detained eight suspected insurgents April 1 after they spotted six of the terrorists emplacing an improvised explosive device near a road the Soldiers frequently travel.

Soldiers initially spotted eight men exit a suspicious truck stopped alongside the road. The men quickly dropped several artillery rounds before driving to a nearby village, where about 10 more men gathered around the truck. Within minutes, the truck drove off, and four insurgents started walking toward the IED.

The four terrorists split into two teams. One team positioned themselves off the road where they could observe traffic and the IED, while the other team began laying wire through a field to the IED and then completed building the pressure-switch bomb. The insurgents then found a place where they too could watch the explosion.

Leaders of 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment called in air support from 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. With assistance from the Soldiers who observed the emplacement of the IED, the OH-58 Kiowa helicopters were able to identify and engage two of the insurgents in the field with machine gun fire and rockets. The helicopters were unable to spot the other two insurgents hiding in the field, so the 1st Battalion leaders ordered their men to fire 120mm artillery rounds at the targets. Upon impact of the artillery rounds, one of the suspects began moving back to the village.

Bastogne Soldiers drove to the village to conduct a cordon and search for the suspects. The Soldiers searched 10 different structures, detaining eight suspected insurgents for questioning; three of the detainees tested positive for explosive residue.

While the Soldiers conducted the cordon and search, another element from 1st Battalion secured the IED site until the explosive ordinance disposal unit could arrive. While EOD examined the IED, Soldiers from 1st Battalion searched the field, confirming two of the terrorists had been killed.

Upon arrival, the EOD unit found two 130mm artillery rounds as part of an IED designed harm innocent civilians, Iraqi security forces or Coalition Forces. After confirmation, the unit disposed of the IED with an on-site controlled blast.

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Two suspected insurgents captured during joint raid

BALAD, Iraq - Two suspected insurgents were captured during a synchronized joint raid led by the Iraqi Army, April 2. Assisting the IA were Soldiers with the 1-8th Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers.

The raid’s objective was to capture insurgents known to be living in the area, prevent them from conducting further attacks on IA and Coalition Forces, as well as to gather intelligence.

One IA Soldier sustained a minor injury during the mission.

The suspected insurgents were taken to a secured location for further questioning and processing.

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Combined raid nets suspects, cache

FOB KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi Army and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers conducted a combined raid March 31 and captured a suspected arms dealer and a weapons cache.

Iraqi Army Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, and Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted the raid north of Najaf.

Soldiers found 99 rocket-propelled grenade launchers inside the suspect’s house.

An explosive ordnance disposal team took control of the weapons.

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CCCI convicts 22 insurgents

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 22 security detainees for various crimes including illegal border crossing, coordinating deadly attacks and joining terrorist groups.

In the first case, Coalition Forces apprehended Mohammed Khalaf Shakara for planning, coordinating and conducting deadly attacks and kidnappings in Mosul and Baghdad. The defendant would receive $50,000 to $100,000 a month from kidnapping operations in Baghdad. The defendant was charged with violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code for joining armed groups. The trial court found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to death.

In the second case, on Oct. 2, 2004, Coalition Forces apprehended Khalid Ibrahim Sulaiman because he was suspected of detonating a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Coalition Forces found the defendant sitting alone in a vehicle with a remote transmission device that was used to detonate the VBIED. The defendant was charged with violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code for attacking the population to unsettle the stability and security of Iraq. The trial court found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

In the third case, Coalition Forces apprehended Zaher Fayez Mohammed, Adel Salem Mohammed and Saleh Al-Shafie Saleh for illegally entering Iraq with the intent to wage jihad. The defendants made their way to Mosul to join the terror network headed by Mohammad Khalaf Shakara. The defendants were charged with violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code for joining armed groups. The trial court found the defendants guilty of the charge and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

In the fourth case, on Nov. 11, 2004, Coalition Forces apprehended Majid Abdullah Su’od for illegally entering the country to assist the insurgency against Coalition Forces and the interim government of Iraq. The defendant served as a recruiter for his terrorist cell of foreign fighters. He was charged with violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code for joining terrorist groups to unsettle the stability and security of Iraq. The trial court found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

In the fifth case, on March 18, 2005, Coalition Forces apprehended A’mer Mohammed Jasim for being a suspected member of the Mosul terror cell. The defendant’s role in the cell was to manage the money and carry food and money to the terror cells. The defendant was charged with violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code for attacking the population to unsettle the stability and security of Iraq. The trial court found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment with credit for time served.

In the sixth case, on June 23, 2005, Coalition Forces apprehended Salem Mohammed Ahmed Saloom for conducting terrorist activities. The defendant was the driver for terrorist finance leader, Abu Sirhan. The defendant was charged with violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code for organizing, heading, leading or joining armed groups. The trial court found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

In the seventh case, Coalition Forces apprehended Ali Mahmud Abd-al-Karim al-Sharif for being a suspected member of al-Taw Heed and al-Jihad groups and receiving more than $50,000 to assist al-Jihad groups. The defendant was charged with violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code for organizing, heading, leading or joining armed groups. The trial court found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

In the eighth case, on Dec. 20, 2003, Coalition Forces apprehended Ali Hussein Mohammed after Coalition Forces criminal investigators observed the defendant and his four co-defendants placing more than $15,000 of merchandise in a trash container located at the Baghdad International Airport Army and Air Force Exchange Service warehouse yard. The defendant was charged with violating Article 444/6/7/11 of the Iraqi Penal Code for theft of government property. The trial court found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with credit for time served.

In the ninth case, on Jan. 30, 2005, Coalition Forces apprehended three men after responding to insurgent attacks that wounded a pilot and damaged a Cobra helicopter. Coalition Forces found the defendants shooting RPG’s and machine guns and recovered an RPG launcher; four RPG rounds, two AK-47’s, three 107mm rockets and a mortar site. The defendant was charged with violating Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 3, Section 6, paragraph 2/B for possession of illegal weapons. The trial court found the defendants guilty of the charge and sentenced them to 15 years imprisonment each.

In the tenth case, on Jan. 29, 2004, Coalition Forces apprehended a man after searching a house and two stores in Muhallibiya believed to be used by insurgents for weapons storage. Coalition Forces found five AK-47 rifles, two RPG launchers, two machine guns, two bayonets, four RPG rounds, eight flares, two RPG propellant packages, four gas masks, four grenades, several hundred assorted small rounds of ammunition, two shotgun shells, and fifty AK-47 rifle magazines at one of the stores. The defendant was charged with violating Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 3, Section 6, paragraph 2/B for possession of illegal weapons. The trial court found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to 3 years imprisonment.

In the eleventh case, on Nov. 8, 2004, Coalition Forces apprehended a Mohammed Thalee Isma’el, Emmad Aldeen Shahata, Aqheel Mohammed Rakan and Ahmed Mohammed Sheet after observing them digging less than 50 meters from a highway south of Mosul. Coalition Forces found one 107mm rocket ready to be fired with wires connected to an igniter. The defendants were charged with violating Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 3, Section 6, paragraph 2/B for possession of illegal weapons. The trial court found the defendants guilty of the charge and sentenced them to 15 years imprisonment each.

In the twelfth case, on Aug. 26, 2004, Coalition Forces apprehended Tariq Zaidan Gahlib, Hussein Jabbar Kadhum and Adel Mohammed Hamid at a vehicle checkpoint after they discovered their car was missing a license plate. Coalition Forces searched the vehicle and found 11 grenades, three RPG-7 launchers, one pound of caste explosives, four RPG warheads, 100 non-electric blasting caps and IED-making materials. The defendants were charged with violating Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 3, Section 6, paragraph 2/A for possession of illegal weapons. The trial court found the defendants guilty of the charge and sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment each.

In the thirteenth case, on May 21, 2005, Coalition Forces apprehended Abd al-Haq Said for illegally crossing the border of Iraq. The defendant claimed to enter Iraq for the purpose of smuggling drugs. The defendant was charged with violating Iraqi Penal Code 10 Part One from the Iraqi passport laws for illegal border crossing. The trial court found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment.

Upon conviction, all defendants are turned over to the Iraqi Corrections Service to serve their sentences.

To date, the CCCI has held 995 trials of insurgents suspected of anti-Iraqi and anti-Coalition activities threatening the security of Iraq and targeting MNF-I. These proceedings have resulted in 908 individual convictions with sentences ranging up to 30 years imprisonment.

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1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division assumes security responsibilities

TIKRIT, Iraq – 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division began the first phase of assuming responsibility for security operations in Salah Ad Din Province April 3. The event was commemorated by a ceremony attended by U.S. and Iraqi officials.

The Salah Ad Din Province is a key area in the security of Iraq. It is in the heart of the country and contains many of Iraq’s natural resources and industries that could bring much needed revenue to the country.

The Iraqi 1st Brigade has been partnered with the Rakkasans of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division since December 2005. During that time, 1st Brigade has progressively taking a larger role in security for the province by assuming responsibility of security in residential areas to include Samarra and Tikrit.

Before April 3, Iraqi Army battalions in these areas received directives solely from Coalition Forces. Now the (Iraqi) 1st Brigade has the authority to delegate missions to the battalions.

Two of the brigade’s five assigned battalions assumed their own operating areas in Tikrit and Samarra. The other three battalions are scheduled to assume areas in and around Bayji and Balad by this summer.

The partnership between the Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces will continue, but the Iraqi Army will continue to take the lead in gathering intelligence, planning and executing missions.

“Yesterday, Coalition Forces were responsible for conducting all the operations in partnership with the Iraqi forces,” Maj. Robert Bertrand, 36, from Seattle, Wash., 3rd BCT Military Transition Team Leader, said April 1 after the ceremony. “Today, the Iraqi forces are in the lead. They are planning the operations. They are gathering the intelligence that is driving the maneuvers. They are going out and seeking and attacking the insurgency.”

The 3rd BCT will continue providing support as the Iraqi security forces develop in the province. Coalition Forces will provide assets such as helicopters, additional weapons and personnel for specific missions, but their involvement in missions will steadily decline as the Iraqi security forces take control.

Several forward operating bases throughout the province are scheduled to be turned over to Iraqi forces later in the year. The FOB handovers will give the Iraqi Security Forces secure installations in the area to conduct training and launch missions.

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Coalition Forces capture nine terrorists in Yusifiyah

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Coalition Forces raided several buildings in Yusifiyah April 5 capturing nine terrorists and killing one in a location known for enemy activity and safe houses. During the troops’ initial search, several terrorists fled from one building into another in an attempt to evade the assaulting force. Coalition Forces shot and killed one before he entered the adjacent structure and demanded the others exit peacefully; several willingly complied.

Coalition Forces assaulted the hideout and detained the remaining terrorists, shooting one. The injured terrorist was medically evacuated to the field hospital at the Abu Ghraib prison.

All who complied were detained without incident.

The troops conducted a thorough search of the identified safe houses, discovering AK-47s, grenades, material for improvised explosive devices and ammunition throughout the buildings.

Three days prior, Coalition Forces captured two terrorists in this area who were involved in hostage taking.

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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.

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