Good News From Iraq

Iraqi Army Captures Members of AQIZ in Samarra

Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – A specially trained Iraqi Army unit captured two Al Qaeda in Iraq members wanted for attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces during an afternoon raid in Samarra on Sept. 22.

The Iraqi unit, with Coalition force advisers, conducted an air-assault in the vicinity of a building used to hold weekly religious meetings for members of AQIZ. Iraqi Army forces quickly cordoned off the area and entered the structure looking for several individuals connected to AQIZ. These individuals are believed responsible for improvised explosive device, sniper and other attacks against Iraqi Police, Iraqi Army, and Coalition forces.

Entry into the building was required by military necessity to locate the suspected AQIZ members. Iraqi forces entered and quickly captured two wanted individuals, one of whom has an outstanding Ministry of Interior arrest warrant. An additional 13 individuals were detained. A cache containing a large amount of mortar ammunition and weapons was found in an adjacent structure. The cache of ammunition was moved to a safe area in preparation for destruction.

Iraqi and Coalition forces respect the significance of sites used for religious purposes. While the building was not a mosque, Iraqi Forces took all precautions normally used for entry into mosques or other religious sites, and they respect the sanctity of all holy sites. Iraqi Forces only enter mosques or other religious sites when they are being used for illegal activities, to detain terrorists or seize material that can be used to harm Iraqi citizens, Iraqi forces and Coalition forces.

In this operation, only Iraqi forces entered the building and no damage occurred.

The raid occurred without incident or casualties.

Iraqi Army Captures Members of AQIZ in Samarra

Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – A specially trained Iraqi Army unit captured two Al Qaeda in Iraq members wanted for attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces during an afternoon raid in Samarra on Sept. 22.

The Iraqi unit, with Coalition force advisers, conducted an air-assault in the vicinity of a building used to hold weekly religious meetings for members of AQIZ. Iraqi Army forces quickly cordoned off the area and entered the structure looking for several individuals connected to AQIZ. These individuals are believed responsible for improvised explosive device, sniper and other attacks against Iraqi Police, Iraqi Army, and Coalition forces.

Entry into the building was required by military necessity to locate the suspected AQIZ members. Iraqi forces entered and quickly captured two wanted individuals, one of whom has an outstanding Ministry of Interior arrest warrant. An additional 13 individuals were detained. A cache containing a large amount of mortar ammunition and weapons was found in an adjacent structure. The cache of ammunition was moved to a safe area in preparation for destruction.

Iraqi and Coalition forces respect the significance of sites used for religious purposes. While the building was not a mosque, Iraqi Forces took all precautions normally used for entry into mosques or other religious sites, and they respect the sanctity of all holy sites. Iraqi Forces only enter mosques or other religious sites when they are being used for illegal activities, to detain terrorists or seize material that can be used to harm Iraqi citizens, Iraqi forces and Coalition forces.

In this operation, only Iraqi forces entered the building and no damage occurred.

The raid occurred without incident or casualties.

MND-B Soldiers find weapons caches, detain 12 suspected terrorists

Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Soldiers from Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, seized weapons and detained three suspected terrorists during a combat operation in southern Baghdad at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The seized weapons consisted of nine hand grenades and various bomb-making materials.

Elsewhere, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, killed two terrorists, and confiscated three AK-47 assault rifles in western Baghdad Tuesday after their convoy was attacked by small-arms fire from a passing vehicle.

In another incident Wednesday, Soldiers from MND-B’s 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., found and seized 14 AK-47 rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with six RPG rounds and nine sets of body armor during combat operations northeast of Baghdad. The Soldiers detained seven suspected terrorists in the operation.

On Friday, Soldiers from MND-B’s Company C, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, attached to 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div., detained two terrorist suspects and seized three improvised-explosive device initiators that the suspects had in their possession at approximately 10 a.m. in southern Baghdad.

As of Thursday, Iraqi Security Forces and MND-B Soldiers have cleared approximately 85,000 buildings, 75 mosques and 60 muhallas, detained more than 125 terrorist suspects, seized more than 1,600 weapons, registered more than 750 weapons and found 35 weapons caches in support of Operation Together Forward. The combined forces have also removed more than 176,568 cubic meters of trash from the streets of Baghdad

Iraqi Army Targets Illegal Armed Group in Baghdad

Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Specially trained Iraqi Army forces, with coalition advisers, endured repeated gunfire and rocket attacks from persons associated with illegal armed groups during an early morning raid in southwestern Baghdad Sunday detaining 12 individuals connected with attacks against Iraqi citizens and Iraqi security forces.

The suspects are believed to be involved in numerous attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces and establishing illegal checkpoints and armed patrols around a building used to construct improvised explosive devices. Iraqi citizens who have questioned or disagreed with these actions have allegedly been kidnapped, tortured and murdered.

Iraqi forces received rocket propelled grenade fire while enroute to their objective, a suspect’s residence. No damage occurred and Iraqi forces continued to the residence. Upon reaching the objective, Iraq forces quickly gained entry to the residence where 11 local national males were found. One local national raised an AK-47 rifle and took aim at Iraqi forces in a hostile manner; he was engaged and killed by Iraqi forces. While preparing to evacuate the other 10 local nationals as detainees, Iraqi forces received continuous fire from several locations around the residence. Iraqi forces responded to these threats with well-aimed fire at clearly identified targets, several of which were neutralized.

At secondary objectives adjacent to the residence, Iraqi forces detained two additional persons connected with illegal armed groups. One teen male, ten females and eight children were not detained. Iraqi forces and all detainees then prepared to depart the objective.

Iraqi forces received numerous RPG and hand grenade attacks as well as heavy small-arms and machine gun fire against their convoy on the route away from the objective. Fire was received from several fighting positions emplaced alongside the road. Iraqi forces quickly moved out of the area, while again engaging identified targets with well-aimed fire. One additional enemy combatant was confirmed killed while two Iraqi Soldiers were lightly wounded.

The raid was conducted as part of Operation Together Forward and highlights the capability and resolve of Iraqi forces as they continue to deny sanctuary for illegal armed groups who harm Iraqi citizens and engage legitimate Iraqi forces working for a secure Iraq.

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