Good News From Iraq

Release A060519a
Coalition Forces destroy insurgent support base
CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces delivered precision munitions at an abandoned hotel in Haqlaniyah May 18, destroying it to deny its use as a support base from which insurgents can coordinate strikes against Coalition Forces.

Coalition Forces have delivered precision munitions at the same location multiple times since May 7 in response to repeated hostile insurgent activity.

This structure is a known location of insurgent activity.

Release A060519b
Coalition Forces respond to multiple insurgent attacks May 18
CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces responded to multiple insurgent attacks in central Ramadi May 18.

Marines from 2/28 Brigade Combat Team were attacked multiple times with improvised explosive devices, medium and heavy machinegun fire, and small arms fire from several locations near the Ramadi Government Center.

Coalition Forces responded with small arms fire, medium and heavy machinegun fire, grenades, mortars, shoulder-fired rockets, and precision munitions.

There were no reports of civilian casualties as a result of the incidents.

Coalition Forces save abandoned boy
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces saved a young boy from imminent danger during significant fighting that resulted in the deaths of over 25 terrorists May 14th in Yusifiyah. In one incident during the course of the hours-long operation, several terrorists abandoned a two-year-old boy in an attempt to save themselves.

Upon initiating the attack, the troops immediately killed two terrorists in response to hostile activity emanating from a suspected safe house and an associated vehicle.

Only trying to preserve their own lives, escaping terrorists literally threw a toddler inside a vehicle near a burning van filled with ammunition and anti-aircraft rockets (the safe house and vehicle were previously struck by Coalition forces to neutralize the threat). The troops made the choice to save the child in lieu of pursuing the terrorists, rescuing the boy just before the rockets exploded.

The troops took custody of the two-year-old and provided him security for almost an hour before they could safely return him to his mother. The boy and his mother were residing in a nearby safe house from where the terrorists originally fled and had abandoned other women and children.

Coalition forces previously reported that three females - one child, one teenager, and one adult - were injured in the initial raid; the youngest only required on-site treatment, the two older females were medically evacuated. As troops transported the two injured females and an unharmed maternal escort to the hospital, the terrorists attempted to shoot down the departing medical sortie (there was no red cross, the helicopter was being used as a medical evacuation transport to expedite care).

The pilots averted the small arms fire and safely delivered the two injured females and their escort the 10th CSH where the wounded were provided further treatment. Both females received additional medical care and were released from the hospital May 15th.

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