4th Iraqi Army Division seizes cache, captures 13 insurgents
MULTINATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH PAO
TIKRIT, Iraq – Soldiers from five separate battalions in the 4th Iraqi Army Division captured 13 suspected insurgents and seized weapons, munitions, rockets and artillery Wednesday during a city-wide operation in Hawijah, Iraq.
The 4th Division’s 2nd Brigade, 3rd Brigade’s 2nd Battalion and the 18th Strategic Infrastructure Battalion established several checkpoints and conducted a comprehensive house to house search to improve security for the people in Kirkuk Province.
“Hawijah has been the scene of attacks against Coalition Forces and insurgents have used Hawijah as a passageway for coordinated attacks in other parts of the province,” said Col. Patrick T. Stackpole, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, currently operating in Kirkuk. “We commend the Iraqi Army’s initiative, professionalism and ability to execute this complex operation,” said Stackpole.
Of the 13 insurgents captured, two were wanted by Iraqi Security Forces. Iraqi soldiers seized 74 AK-47s, numerous explosives, three pistols and two stolen cars.
4th Iraqi Army Division celebrates new multi-use compound
MULTINATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH PAO
TIKRIT, Iraq – The 3rd Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division celebrated the grand opening of its new multi-use military compound Monday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Patrol Base Andrea, located west of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq.
According to Mr. William Hopkins, project superintendent for Environmental Chemical Corporation (ECC), some of the compound’s 30 structures include 3rd Brigade’s headquarters’ housing complex for 277 soldiers, the brigade’s 1st Battalion’s housing complex for 750 soldiers and several combined use facilities, to include a 500-seat dining facility, joint maintenance, fuel and ammunition points, a warehouse, and a medical clinic and classrooms.
Hopkins also said the compound is slated to be fully operational by December, 2006. It is the first of three permanent compounds to be constructed in the region by the 4th Iraqi Army Division with the help of Coalition Forces.
“This force was transformed into a brigade in 2004 with the assistance of Coalition Forces,” said Brig. Gen. Anwar, commanding general, 3rd Brigade, 4th
Iraqi Army Division, through an interpreter. “Our Coalition friends have again assisted us in constructing three permanent military compounds, to include this one. For it all, we are grateful,” said Anwar.
The compound will improve the efficiency of the brigade’s command and control elements and will enable soldiers of the brigade’s headquarters element and 1st Battalion to move out of borrowed housing and tents.
“Every day your soldiers demonstrate their courage by serving their country against a ruthless enemy under difficult conditions,” said Col. Patrick. T. Stackpole, commander, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. “Finally, they have a permanent place to rest between operations and to train together to continue to establish a safe and secure Iraq,” said Stackpole.
CCCI convicts 27 insurgents: Five sentenced to death, two sentenced to 15 years imprisonment
BAGHDAD — The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted twenty seven individuals from Oct. 5 to 12 for various crimes including kidnapping, possession of illegal weapons, using or taking advantage of someone else’s legal documents, heading, leading, joining armed groups, and illegal border crossing.
A Tunisian man has received the death sentence for violating Article 4 of the Terrorist Law. Ground forces captured the defendant, a suspected member of a terrorist cell and a foreign fighter in May of 2006. The defendant participated in dozens of attacks against the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi National Guard, the ground force and civilians.
Three Iraqi men received death sentences for kidnapping, a violation of part B, J, D and H of Article 421 of the Iraqi Penal Code. Ground forces apprehended the defendants in connection with a kidnapping ring. The defendants were guards and construction workers where the victims were kept.
The trial court has sentenced an Iraqi-American man to death for kidnapping, a violation of part G, D and H of Article 421 of the Iraqi Penal Code. Ground forces apprehended the defendant in May of 2005 for the participation in the kidnapping of three individuals.
Those convicted of passport violations and entering the country illegally included men from Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Other sentences ranged from two to 15 years imprisonment.
TWO TERRORISTs KILLED, FOUR DETAINED IN Muqdadiyah
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed two insurgents and detained four suspects during a raid in Muqdadiyah Friday targeting a terrorist known to facilitate the movement of foreign fighters and finances into the area.
As Coalition Forces approached the objective, they received fire from two armed insurgents and immediately returned fire killing both.
Forces detained four more terror suspects without further incident after they secured the area.
Last month, Coalition Forces disrupted several other foreign fighter cells in Muqdadiyah, an area foreign terrorists are known to utilize as a safe haven.
Terrorist suspects apprehended after Habbaniyah attack
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces apprehended seven suspected terrorists Oct. 19 associated with a VBIED attack on the Khaldiyah Bridge in Habbaniyah that killed two Iraqi soldiers, wounded two other Iraqi soldiers and four civilians the day prior.
A series of operations led to the apprehension of the suspects seen at several meetings Oct. 18 with a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader. Credible intelligence indicates the suspected terrorist leader coordinated the VBIED attack and is responsible for foreign fighter movements, and other attacks throughout the area.
The conditions of the wounded Iraqi soldiers and civilians are not available at this time.
Iraqi authorities have restricted all civilian traffic from the bridge pending an engineering assessment and subsequent repairs.
These operations targeted foreign fighter facilitators and VBIED operations – two of the principal threats to Iraq’s security and the safety of innocent Iraqi citizens. Those who participate in crimes against the people of Iraq will ultimately be subject to the rule of Iraqi law.
MULTINATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH PAO
MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi police remained vigilant in the face of a complex attack in Mosul Thursday.
Al Qaeda in Iraq forces attacked the Abi Tamaam Police Station in east Mosul Thursday at approximately 7:00 a.m. with two suicide truck bombs. The first truck bomb exploded near the station’s entry control point, blowing down protective walls and creating a sizeable crater in the road. The second truck, unable to penetrate the police station’s perimeter due to the crater and debris left over from the first truck bomb detonated in the street.
As a result of the attack, 10 Iraqi civilians and one Iraqi Policeman were killed while nine IPs and 15 Iraqi civilians were wounded. Two AIF were killed in the attack.
“The Iraqi police took the brunt and stood their ground,” said Col. Steve Townsend, commander, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Task Force Lightning. “We’re immensely proud of their resilience.”
Later in the morning two other SVBIEDs targeting Coalition Forces exploded, wounding two Soldiers and causing minor damage to two Stryker vehicles. The wounded were treated and returned to duty. Two additional AIF were killed in the second attack.
Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces supported the IPs who were targeted with indirect and small arms fire throughout the morning.
Coalition Forces launched an engineer team to the police station to clear the destroyed vehicles, repair the road crater and rebuild the wall.
“We wanted to show our solidarity after their heroic stand,” Townsend said.
Thursday’s series of attacks on the IPs in Mosul came a week after ISF responded in support of CF who had been targeted by a series of complex attacks by AIF.
IA Captures Members of Insurgent and Kidnapping, Murder Cells
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BAGHDAD — Iraqi Army forces conducted early-morning raids Oct. 20 in Baghdad and captured several suspected members of insurgent and murder and kidnapping cells, including the alleged leader of an Al Qaeda in Iraq cell.
Iraqi forces, with Coalition advisers, arrived at three separate objectives and detained eight suspects believed responsible for sectarian murders and kidnappings, as well as improvised explosive device attacks on Iraqi and Coalition forces.
Iraqi Army forces, in a raid in the Adhamiyah area of Baghdad targeting a murder and kidnapping cell, detained two suspects responsible for sectarian attacks against Iraqi civilians and indirect fire attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces.
In two other raids targeting insurgent and murder and kidnapping cells in southwestern Baghdad, Special Iraqi Army forces detained four suspected terrorists involved in IED, rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces and two persons suspected of sectarian attacks against Iraqi civilians. One operation occurred in the vicinity of the Al Mluki Mosque in the Al Monsour district of Baghdad. Iraqi and Coalition forces did not enter the mosque, nor cause any damage to it.
Operations on the objectives caused minimal damage and there were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi forces or Coalition forces casualties.
The operation was conducted as part of Operation Together Forward with the goal of disrupting cells which indiscriminately kill innocent Iraqi citizens and attack legitimate Iraqi government forces.
ISF Captures Two Terrorists in Raid Near Taji
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BAGHDAD — Special Iraqi Security Forces captured two terrorists and killed two others Oct. 19 during a raid near Taji.
Iraqi forces, with Coalition advisers, conducted an air-assault raid looking for five Al Qaeda in Iraq linked terrorists allegedly responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi citizens and conducting improvised explosive device attacks in the Taji area. The suspects had outstanding Ministry of Interior arrest warrants.
Iraqi forces entered the objective and immediately encountered three male local citizens. One man immediately complied with verbal commands and surrendered. Another man grabbed a pistol and demonstrated hostile intent. He was shot and killed by the assault force. A third man, sitting behind the second man, was wounded in the exchange. Coalition force medics immediately rendered first aid to the wounded man.
As Iraqi forces continued to clear the objective, a second male citizen was shot and killed after he grabbed a rifle during efforts to peacefully detain him.
The four persons were positively identified as the wanted terrorists.
The Iraqi force returned to base with two detainees. There were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi force or Coalition force casualties. No significant damage was done to the objective.
One terrorist killed and seven detained in Ramadi
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed one suspected terrorist and detained seven other suspected terrorists, to include a close associate of the targeted terrorist, during a raid in Ramadi Saturday morning.
The targeted terrorist is a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in Ramadi known for facilitating the movement of explosives and participating in multiple operations against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. Credible intelligence indicates he is responsible for coordinating access to weapons and finances for foreign fighters and for media production and propaganda distribution for al-Qaeda in Iraq. On Oct. 18, the targeted terrorist facilitated a suicide VBIED attack on the Khaldiyah Bridge in Habbaniyah that killed two Iraqi soldiers and wounded two Iraqi soldiers along with four civilians.
During the assault on the objective buildings, Coalition Forces were engaged by and killed the terrorist. Due to the primary target’s background, and the discovery of a booby trap in the building during clearing operations, Coalition Forces suspected the presence of explosives and destroyed the building as a measure to ensure the safety of the civilian populace.