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Iraqi Security Forces detain 28 in raid in Mahmudiyah
Multi-National Corps-Iraq
BAGHDAD
– Special Iraqi Police Force, with coalition advisers, captured 28 people during a raid Nov. 20 near Mahmudiyah against an insurgent cell.

The cell is suspected of conducting improvised explosive device and mortar attacks against Iraqi Security Force as well as well as kidnapping, extortion and murder of Iraqi civilians.

Iraqi forces detained 10 insurgents; 18 others with outstanding Ministry of Interior arrest warrants; and another 15 suspects were detained and later released from Iraqi custody.

The insurgent cell is also believed to be responsible for conducting attacks against Iraqi Police and Army forces, and promoting sectarian violence in the northern Babil Province area.

There were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi Force or Coalition Force casualties during this operation.

2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. BOLT helps secure Iraqis future
RADWANIYAH, Iraq — Mohamad, an Iraqi farmer, found it difficult enough to survive on what produce he could eke out of his small desert farm. But when some of the carefully constructed irrigation channels were destroyed, he had no way to provide for his family.

Mohamad’s land was partially destroyed when the U.S. Army closed roads for military purposes. While the roads were closed a vehicle drove across his land, caving in the canal and stopping the water flow to his crops. Mohamad had nowhere to turn – except to the U.S. Army’s Brigade Operational Law Team for help.

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, claims mission plays a vital role in promoting and maintaining friendly relations with the local Iraqi people.

“Money is essentially another weapon system on the battlefield,” said Capt. Nate Hummel, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., who serves as the 2nd BCT’s appointed, single-member, Foreign Claims Commission. “Not only are we living up to our moral and legal obligations in taking responsibility for our actions, but we truly are helping the Iraqi people.

”The BOLT is able to help the Iraqis under the provisions of the Foreign Claims Act."

The FCA allows compensation for local nationals who suffer damage, injury or death as a result of non-combat activities, negligent or wrongful acts or omissions committed by the U.S. military personnel.

“The (FCA) is good because we are trying to do some right to the accident that was done,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Davis II, a native of Nashville who serves as the 2nd BCT BOLT noncommissioned officer in charge and the claims pay agent.

“Sometimes this is their only livelihood and their only means of survival. Our claims mission is primarily to help the Iraqi people.”

Every week the BOLT works hand-in-hand with the Iraqi claims personnel to provide assistance to the locals at either the Radwaniyah Palace Complex’s Civil Military Operations Center or Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah, southwest of Baghdad.

The CMOC is fully staffed with several Iraqi interpreters, claims specialists and attorneys who review clams and assist in advising claimants on collection or proper documents, photographs and other pieces of evidence.

“When the locals come here (for help) we make sure to treat them in a good way and help them try and find a solution for their current situation,” said Saladean, the CMOC general information manager. “We try to help them so they can progress their future.”

While the Iraqi claims specialist and attorneys play a vital role in making sure the claims are legitimate, the paperwork is filled out correctly and the proper evidence is submitted the BOLT is hard at work ensuring the claims are paid.

“We try and make sure the claims are paid in a timely manner,” said Spc. Patrick Burtt-Henderson, the 2nd BCT claims paralegal specialist and native of Whitman, Mass. “We want to establish a good relationship with the locals.”

Since the 2nd BCT has arrived in Iraq, only a few months ago, the BOLT has helped many Iraqis, but all cases do not get approved.

“A difficult part of the job is when we have to deny claims that do not qualify under the FCA (Foreign Claims Act) due to the combat exclusion,” Hummel said. “Many local nationals find themselves in the wrong place, at the wrong time - caught in crossfire or escalation of force incidents, where U.S. Soldiers were doing their job and following the rules of engagement.”

Although some of the locals’ claims do not get approved, the BOLT tries to help (the Iraqis) in any way they can.

“Sometimes there are other avenues if the FCA doesn’t apply. One of these alternatives is using a Commander’s Emergency Relief Program (CERP) funded condolence payment,” Hummel explained. “Condolence payments are unique, in that they serve a ‘solace-like’ purpose. Often used to express sympathy and offer immediate and urgent humanitarian assistance.”

It is important that the locals build bonds with the United States so they will not turn to terrorist for help.

“I trust the people of the United States and I believe they don’t want to do anything bad to the Iraqi people,” Mohamad said. “They want to help the Iraqi people.”

Since the U.S. Army helped Mohamad he decided to join the Iraqi Army.

“Since I have seen the (U.S.) military helping the Iraqis I wanted to do something for my people,” Mohamad said. “I have already got my identification card and I am joining the IA.”
Mohamad was just one of the many locals who the BOLT has helped. Each week at least 50 locals ask for help.

“Paying these claims to the locals helps promote and maintain friendly relations in the 2nd BCT’s AO,” Hummel added. “This builds upon the local population’s trust and confidence in us (the U.S. Army).

”The BOLT will continue to run weekly meetings with the Iraqis throughout the deployment to help the Iraqis with their claims.

ISF conducts raid to capture four insurgents
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BAGHDAD
– Special Iraqi Security Forces, with Coalition advisers, captured four insurgents Nov. 23 in a raid in the Al Doura district, Baghdad who are allegedly responsible for improvised explosive device attacks and other attacks against Iraqi civilians and Iraqi Police.

The insurgents are linked to Al Qaeda in Iraq and are known to harbor terrorist fighters in the area and conduct attacks against IP and Coalition Forces checkpoints.

Three additional suspected insurgents were detained by Iraqi forces.

One insurgent was slightly wounded during the operation. He was treated by medical personnel at the objective and is expected to fully recover.

There were no Iraqi forces or Coalition forces casualties and there was minimal damage done to the objective and surrounding area.

Iraqi Army conducts raid, detains suspects
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BAGHDAD
– Special Iraqi Army Forces, with Coalition advisers, conducted a raid Nov. 23 in Baghdad to capture an insurgent facilitating the movement of foreign fighters who kidnap and murder Iraqi civilians and conduct attacks against Coalition Forces.

Iraqi forces entered a mosque in the Samir neighborhood where the insurgent and other suspected insurgents were reportedly located. Iraqi forces detained 6 suspects. No Coalition Forces entered the mosque.

Iraqi and enemy forces exchanged small arms fire, resulting in one enemy wounded. The wounded person was treated and placed into Iraqi Police custody.

An unknown ignition source caused a fire to start in a trash pile located next to mosque.

There were no Iraqi forces or Coalition forces casualties. Iraqi forces caused only minor damage to the mosque during the operation.

ISF conducts raid against kidnapping-murder cell Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BAGHDAD
– Special Iraqi Army Forces, with Coalition advisers, conducted a raid Nov. 23 in Sadr City, Baghdad to capture a kidnapping and murder cell leader reported to have knowledge of the whereabouts of a missing US Soldier and who is allegedly responsible for attacks against Iraqi civilians.

The missing Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldier was abducted in Baghdad on Oct. 23.

Five suspected cell members were detained by Iraqi forces.

A vehicle displaying hostile intent was identified as an immediate threat to Iraqi forces. Iraqi forces fired on the vehicle to neutralize the threat.

There were no Iraqi forces or Coalition forces casualties. Minimal damage occurred to the objective and surrounding area during the operation.

ONE TERRORIST KILLED, TWO DETAINED IN BALAD RAID
BALAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed a terrorist and detained two suspected terrorists Wednesday evening during a raid in Balad.

The raid targeted an individual associated with a suspected senior leader of the Iraqi al-Qaida network.

As Coalition Forces approached the target area, they engaged and killed an armed terrorist. Coalition Forces continued their mission and detained two suspected terrorists armed with weapons and ammunition.

Coalition Forces will continue to conduct raids of this type to disrupt al-Qaida’s ability to continue operations in the Balad area and across Iraq.

MND-B air crew destroys rocket launcher in Sadr City
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD
– A crew from a Multi-National Division – Baghdad attack helicopter destroyed a rocket launcher observed firing from a Sadr City neighborhood at approximately 7 p.m. Nov. 24.

After observing the rocket fire, the air crew moved to the location where the rockets were launched and made positive identification of the personnel firing the rocket launchers.

They engaged the target and destroyed the launchers.

“In all, six rockets were confirmed as fired prior to the U.S. intervention to prevent further escalation of sectarian violence among Iraqis and damage from these indirect fire systems,” said MND-B spokesman and public affairs officer, Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl.

Bleichwehl said the rockets launched impacted in an Adhamiyah neighborhood, near the Hanifa Mosque.

FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED, SIX SUSPECTS DETAINED
BAGHDAD, Iraq
– Coalition Forces killed four terrorists and detained six suspected terrorists during a mission to disrupt an al-Qaida vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell in Tarmiyah Friday.

As ground forces made their way toward the targeted building, they received enemy fire from the vicinity of a mosque. Coalition Forces returned fire, killing four terrorists, and continued toward the targeted building.

At the targeted building, the ground forces detained two suspected terrorists. After they left the building, they returned to the vicinity of the mosque and six individuals, including two wounded men, exited the building.

Four suspected terrorists were detained and the two wounded men were treated by ground forces on scene. They were then medically evacuated to a nearby military medical center.

Considering the amount of human suffering and damage inflicted by VBIEDs, it is always significant when Coalition Forces are able to eliminate and detain terrorists involved in organizing these attacks.

TEN TERRORISTS KILLED, BOMB-MAKING FACILITY DESTROYED
Baghdad, Iraq --
Coalition Forces killed ten terrorists and conducted an air strike on an improvised explosive device factory during three simultaneous raids near al-Taji today.

While approaching the objectives, Coalition Forces encountered small arms fire and killed ten terrorists.

During the exchange of fire, one pregnant woman and one teenaged male were injured. She and the teenage male were immediately treated and subsequently evacuated to Coalition medical facilities for further treatment. The teenage male died shortly after arriving to the hospital. The woman was treated for minor injuries and is expected to be released tomorrow.

After the fighting, Coalition Forces conducted a thorough search of the target area and discovered significant caches consisting of rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns. anti-aircraft weapons, pipe bombs, and more than 3,000 feet of detonation cord. The caches were destroyed by coalition aircraft. No one was injured during the air strike.

Coalition Forces strive to mitigate risks to civilians while in pursuit of terrorists. It is always a shame when terrorists hide among civilian women and children, putting them in harm’s way.

MND-B air crew destroys rocket launcher in Sadr City - Follow Up to RELEASE No. 20061124-04
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD –
A crew from a Multi-National Division – Baghdad attack helicopter
destroyed a rocket launcher observed firing from a Sadr City neighborhood at
approximately 7 p.m. Nov. 24.

After observing the rocket fire, the air crew moved to the location where the
rockets were launched and made positive identification of the personnel firing the rocket
launchers.

They engaged the target and destroyed the launchers.

The accompanying video is gun-camera footage from the attack helicopter that
engaged the targets. The video begins with the launch of the final two of six observed
rockets launched in Sadr City. The location of the rocket launcher is at center view.

After the initial aerial view of the Sadr City launch site, the video transitions to a
close-up view of the site where three remaining rocket tubes are lying on the ground.
The video closes with the gun ship destroying the rocket tubes.

IA conducts census, security operations in Ramadi
1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division PAO

AR RAMADI, Iraq – Iraqi soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Division, conducted a census and security operation in western Ramadi Friday.

More than 100 soldiers, led by their commanders, conducted the census operations and ensured the security of the western sector of Ramadi.

The 2-1-7 Iraqi Army battalion planned and executed the motorized, mechanized and dismounted operation employing T-72 Tanks, High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (Humvees) and dismounted patrols during a four hour operation. Demonstrating good communication between battalion elements, the Iraqi soldiers were able to secure more than 75 structures during the operation.

“They demonstrated their ability to exercise command and control as a battalion sized combat unit,” said 1st Lt. Brett V. Taylor, advisor for the 2-1-7 IA.

The operation sets the conditions for the 2-1-7 IA to assume the lead and take responsibility for their portion of the city. Once the area of operations is officially transferred to 2-1-7 IA, they will be the third and final battalion in the 1st Brigade, 7th IA to own an area of operation in Ramadi.

The battalion also conducted key leader engagements in Ramadi and visited the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Their visit to the hospital was coordinated with policemen from the Western Ramadi Police Substation, and included delivery of much appreciated medical supplies.

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