Good News From Iraq

Iraqi Security Forces Detain Police Colonel In Al Kut

BALAD – Iraqi security forces detained an Iraqi police colonel in Al Kut province on July 29.

This individual is alleged to be involved in numerous illegal and insurgent activities; he was detained without incident.

No further information is available at this time.

Suspected terrorist killed in Hillah

MNC-I Public Affairs

FOB KALSU, Iraq – A suspected terrorist in Hillah brandishing an AK47 rifle died Friday morning during a confrontation in front of the Imam Ali Mosque.

On a routine patrol through Hillah, a combined patrol saw three armed individuals standing outside the mosque. After telling them they could not carry weapons, the patrol left the area.

They returned approximately 15 minutes later to find the three armed men continuing their activities in front of the mosque. As they approached, the men ran into the mosque, one of the individuals ran back out with an AK47 and pointed it at the patrol.

The unit engaged the individual pointing the weapon and killed him. The patrol was then engaged by small arms fire from the mosque and surrounding buildings. They broke contact, left the area and promptly reported the incident to the Hillah police.

The mayor of Hillah and Brigadier General Qais Hamza, Babil provincial police chief, were able to diffuse a potentially deadly encounter when they talked to the armed force and were able to lower tensions.

MND-B Soldiers detain two suspected terrorists

1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – A unit from 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted a cordon and search operation north of Baghdad at approximately 2 a.m. Friday, resulting in the detention of two suspected terrorists.

The 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. continues to conduct offensive operations to provide a safe and secure environment for all Iraqi citizens.

ISF, MND-B Soldiers detain 25 with tip from Iraqi citizens

2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div. PAO

FOB KALSU, Iraq – A tip from concerned Iraqi citizens near Lutifiyah provided Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers with the information they needed to detain 25 individuals Friday suspected of being involved in a marketplace attack in Mahmudiyah last week.

Elements of 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, teamed up with Iraqi police from Iskandariyah to pursue the suspects. The tip focused the search at the Al Rahman Mosque in Lutifiyah.

As the congregation departed the mosque after prayer, women and children were separated from the group and 25 adult males were detained. Five of the detainees are terrorist suspects in connection with bomb-making cells in the area.

The suspects were taken to a detention facility for questioning.

Coalition Forces will reposition to Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Approximately 3,700 Coalition Force Soldiers from around Iraq will be repositioned in order to support the Government of Iraq in their ongoing mission to help secure Baghdad and reduce the level of violence in that city.

With the already scheduled troop rotation of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) the decision was made to reposition it from northern Iraq into Baghdad. The 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), an Alaska-based unit, known as the ‘Artic Wolves’ Brigade, will provide additional security in Baghdad. Their SBCT characteristics provide an enhanced capability to conduct security operations in Baghdad.

“This will place our most experienced unit with our most mobile and agile systems in support of our main effort in Baghdad at a decisive time’, said General George Casey, Multi National Forces – Iraq commander. “With the rest of the elements of the plan, this gives us a potentially decisive capability to affect security in Baghdad in the near term”, General Casey stated.

U.S. and Coalition Force troop levels in Iraq continue to be conditions-based and will be determined in consultation with the Iraqi government. The duration of the temporary deployment of these Iraqi and Coalition forces in Baghdad will be determined by conditions on the ground.

Raid frees Iraqi hostage

TIKRIT, Iraq – An Iraqi man being held hostage by terrorists was freed during an early morning raid Sunday by Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers near the city of Muqdadiyah.

The man was found bound and blindfolded in a mud hut in the middle of a palm grove north of the city. He was transported to a nearby Iraqi base and reunited with his family.

According to the former hostage, his captors had planned to “judge” him Monday.

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division and Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division conducted the mission.

The raid was aimed at disrupting insurgent activity in the area. In addition to freeing the hostage, the raid also resulted in the detention of 16 suspects and the discovery of a cache of IED making materials and terrorist propaganda.

Iraqi national police capture gang members suspected of kidnappings

BAGHDAD – Iraqi policemen from 7th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, captured two gang members suspected of involvement in several kidnappings in the Al Bayaa district of southwestern Baghdad at approximately 8:50 a.m. today.

In a surprise raid, the policemen captured two gang members allegedly involved in the kidnappings of local citizens.

Information from unidentified sources pointed to their location, assisting in the success of the mission.

Coalition forces turn over al-Qaida in Iraq leader

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces announce they’ve turned over to the Iraqi government an al-Qaida in Iraq leader that has admitted to conducting terrorist activity since 2004. The terrorist will now be prosecuted by the Iraqi government under the Iraqi justice system.

The terrorist leader held multiple leadership positions within al-Qaida and was appointed by Abu Mus’ab al Zarqawi and Abu Ayyub al Masri to two of the positions he held. At one time, he coordinated and oversaw the operations of five different terrorist cells at one time.

The Iraqi admitted to coordinating over ten death squad attacks, personally participating in several of them, while he was a member of one terrorist cell. The cell targeted several innocent Iraqis including grocery store and butcher store owners. Another of the groups he led coordinated kidnappings and large scale bombings throughout Baghdad.

He was captured in a raid in western Baghdad that resulted from intelligence gathered during the successful targeting of former al-Qaida in Iraq leader Zarqawi in early June.

Iraqi and Coalition officials will continue to work closely to ensure the terrorist receives due process through the Iraqi justice system.

Coalition forces detain two senior al-Qaida in Iraq leaders

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces successfully targeted and detained two senior al-Qaida in Iraq leaders and three other suspected terrorists during multiple raids in central and northern Iraq on the morning of July 29.

A recent detainee provided information that led the security forces to one of the terrorists, a top leader for the Al Dhuluiyah area. The targeted individual was reportedly the main planner for the attack against Peshmerga forces at a checkpoint in Al Dhuluiya in May 2006. Credible intelligence also ties the terrorist leader to other al-Qaida leaders in the area.

In a separate raid, security forces detained a principal financial and logistical coordinator for al-Qaida in the MosulMosul. area. He also was reportedly the leader of a terrorist cell responsible for kidnappings and executing vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) and IED attacks in

Ground troops discovered a large weapons cache at another target site. The cache included several rocket propelled grenades, multiple launchers, explosives and materials for IEDs, small arms, and ordnance. All of them were destroyed on location.

Coalition forces quickly secured the areas in all of the raids and detained the individuals without incident. These and other recent assaults are helping Coalition forces get a clearer picture of the enemy network in the region, and they continue to methodically degrade the terrorist network.

Multiple women and children were present at the raid sites. None were harmed and all were returned to their homes once the troops ensured the area was secure.

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Iraqi army and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers detained two terrorists and discovered bomb-making materials south of Baghdad Sunday night.

Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, reported a drive-by shooting at their checkpoint at approximately 8:45 p.m.; the soldiers returned fire, causing the terrorists to flee their vehicle on foot.

A quick reaction force from Company C, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, responded to the checkpoint and captured the two terrorists. In the vehicle, the Soldiers seized various bomb-making materials.

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