Iraqi Army, Wolverine troops seize two weapons caches
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
PATROL BASE LION’S DEN, Iraq — A joint patrol discovered two weapons caches two miles north of Yusufiyah, Iraq, as part of Operation Wolverine Alesia Feb. 2.
In the first cache, Iraqi Army troops from 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment “Wolverines,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) discovered two 81mm mortar rounds, one 120mm artillery round, 50 57mm anti-aircraft rounds, one high-explosive tank round, one improvised rocket-propelled grenade round made out of industrial metal tubing, one armor-piercing RPG round, 100 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and a 60mm mortar tube. They also found four prefabricated projectile canisters.
At the second cache site, 300 yards away, Iraqi troops found four 60mm mortar rounds, two sticks of dynamite, two AK-47 assault rifles, two 107mm rockets, two RPG rockets, a case of AK-47 ammunition, 40 shotgun shells and a medium machine gun.
The operation, which began Jan. 30, was intended to deny terrorist sanctuary between the village of Yusufiyah and the major highway leading into Baghdad from the south.
Iraqi Army seizes large cache in Baghdad
By Capt. David Levasseur, 2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div. PAO
BAGHDAD—Iraqi Army troops captured cache of weapons and explosives in the western Baghdad neighborhood Feb. 2.
Working from a tip given to the 6th Iraqi Army headquarters, elements of the 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army searched an abandoned house in Kahdra Feb. 2.
Inside the house, the troops found 19 57mm rockets, four rocket-propelled grenade rounds, nine 120mm mortar rounds, five 100mm mortar rounds, three 107mmm rockets, five 130mm artillery rounds, nine 122mm artillery rounds, one 152mm artillery round, two 85mm projectiles, one 155mm artillery round, two roadside bomb timers, one mortar tube, five AK-47s and two machine guns.
The former occupants of the house are unknown. The explosives were taken to a U.S. base by EOD for disposal.
IED cell foiled, five terrorist suspects detained
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
PATROL BASE YUSUFIYAH, Iraq — Iraqi Army soldiers running independent operations detained five men and seized two improvised explosive devises near Yusufiyah, Iraq Feb 1.
Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division discovered the IEDs while conducting a cordon and search operations near a village in the rural farmlands 10 miles southwest of Baghdad.
Iraqi Army troops searched a house and found one 120mm artillery round and a 155mm artillery round, both rigged as IEDs and prepared for placement. The troops detained five men in the house and seized the IEDs.
The suspects are being held for questioning.
FOUR AL-QAIDA, FOREIGN FIGHTER TERRORISTS KILLED; 29 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED
BAGHDAD, Iraq –Coalition Forces killed four terrorists and detained 29 suspected terrorists during raids targeting foreign fighters and the al-Qaida in Iraq network Saturday morning.
During a raid in Fallujah, Coalition Forces targeted a terrorist with known ties to a foreign fighter network. As ground forces approached the targeted building, three armed terrorists attempted to fire on them. Coalition Forces killed the three armed terrorists and detained 10 suspected terrorists.
West of Tarmiyah, Coalition Forces targeted terrorists with ties to the al-Qaida in Iraq network. Upon approaching the objective, one suspected terrorist began advancing towards Coalition Forces.
Coalition Forces told the man to get on the ground. The man complied at first and then got back up and charged toward Coalition Forces with what appeared to be a grenade. Coalition Forces used proper escalation of force to mitigate the threat.
Upon searching the man, Coalition Forces determined the man was charging at them with a rock in his hand instead of a grenade. The man died from his wounds. Coalition Forces detained eight suspected terrorists during this raid.
During an operation in Tarmiyah, five suspected terrorists were detained. Intelligence reports indicated that the suspects are involved in al-Qaida in Iraq kidnapping operations, improvised explosive devices emplacement and foreign terrorist safe house activities. Coalition Forces also uncovered a weapons cache consisting of numerous AK-47s, several pistols, wire spools, 60mm mortar rounds and a pressure plate.
Four suspected terrorists operating a foreign fighter safe house were detained in Ramadi.
In Kalar, two suspects with ties to foreign fighter facilitation were detained.
Coalition Forces are working diligently to eliminate foreign terrorists and al-Qaida supporters who are trying to hijack the development and building of a new stable and peaceful Iraq.
Emergency response unit captures cache north of Ramadi
Multi-National Force – West PAO
RAMADI, Iraq – Members of the Iraqi 2nd Battalion Emergency Response Unit discovered a weapons cache while conducting a patrol north of Ramadi Feb. 1.
The cache consisted of 200 various sized mortar rounds ranging from 60mm to 120mm, fourteen Katusha Rockets, five 155 mm rounds prepared as improvised explosive devices and 86 mortar fuses.
“Emergency Response Units serve as a quick reaction force to augment and support the police in Anbar province,” said Coalition spokesman Army Maj. Kirk Slaughter. “They are made up of Iraqi citizens and are led by the commander of the Iraqi Police in Anbar. There are nearly 500 more Iraqis in training to become members of the ERU.”
Iraqi Army, town mayor cut ribbon on school renovation project
Multi-National Division – North PAO
AL SALAMIYAH, Iraq – Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division partnered with civil affairs teams and Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, in celebrating the completion of an $88,500 renovation project at Salamiyah Primary School on Jan. 31.
Brig. Gen. Noraddeen, commander of 4-2 IA, and Ahmed Esad, mayor of Al Salamiyah, presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Both men took a tour of the renovated school and spoke with students and teachers immediately after the event.
Upgrades to the school include newly-furnished offices, classrooms and a rebuilt entrance to the school.
Iraqi army soldiers and Coalition civil military operations teams continue to travel throughout Iraq, assessing needs where found and bringing resources to bear to assist the everyday people who live outside the large cities.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces disrupted explosives cells in Mosul and Baghdad during two raids Sunday morning, killing a suspected key vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell leader and detaining five suspected VBIED terrorists.
The raid in Mosul targeted a terrorist who is believed responsible for the production of explosives used in attacks against Coalition Forces in Mosul.
Upon entering the targeted building, Coalition Forces encountered two suspected terrorists. One of the terrorists ignored Coalition Forces instructions and suddenly reached into his jacket. Coalition Forces responded with proper self defense methods in response to the perceived threat. The terrorist subsequently died from his wounds.
The other suspect was detained and is also believed to be responsible for the attacks. Two other suspected terrorists believed to have ties to the Mosul VBIED network were also detained during the raid.
Coalition Forces also detained two suspected terrorists during a raid in Baghdad. Acting on intelligence reports, Coalition Forces searched the residence of a suspected terrorist believed to be actively planning, financing and executing of VBIED operations.
During the raid, ground forces found more than 250 cellular phones and various types of IED initiators. The materials, commonly used in the detonation of explosives and resulting in the deaths of Iraqi civilians and Coalition Forces, were seized from the residence to prevent further use by terrorists. Ground forces also found a vehicle in front of the building which was assessed to be wired for detonation. Ground forces destroyed the vehicle’s engine block, rendering it useless for future attacks.
Coalition Forces are making progress dismantling the terrorist network inside Iraq. The results of today’s raids reduce the terrorist network’s ability to operate, and increases the safety of all Iraqi citizens, Iraqi forces, and Iraq’s Multi-National partners.
Patrol seizes murder suspects in Mahmuhdiyah
2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) Public Affairs
PATROL BASE MAHMUHDIYAH, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized an Iraqi man suspected of murder in Mahmudiyah, Iraq Feb 3.
A local witness reported the murder to a patrol from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment. The man gave a description of the vehicle and the three men allegedly involved. The unit began a search for the vehicle.
They soon found a vehicle matching the description being towed by a repair truck. Inside the vehicle were three men. One possessed a 9mm pistol, a black ski mask and had dried blood on his hands.
The patrol detained the three men and turned them over to the Iraqi Army. The suspects are being held for questioning.
The incident is under investigation.
Search and seizures around Tuz
By Spc. Kevin Allen, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
TUZ, Iraq— Iraqi Army soldiers detained 24 individuals on suspicion insurgent activities during a cordon and search February 1-2 in the villages surrounding Tuz, approximately 110 miles north of Baghdad. The two-day operation was conducted by the Iraqi Army’s 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division with Coalition Forces providing tactical over watch and logistical support.
The soldiers confiscated 45 AK-47 rifles, three shotguns, three bolt-action rifles, two 9 mm pistols and improvised explosive device-making materials, grenades and blasting caps.
No casualties were reported during the mission.
Three Terrorists Killed, Al Qaida Cell Leader Captured
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained 26 suspected terrorists including an al-Qaida in Iraq cell leader during raids Monday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitator and al-Qaida in Iraq networks.
In Al Karabilah, Coalition Forces raided four buildings where a foreign fighter facilitation cell was reported to be operating. During the raid, ground forces encountered three armed men who attempted to engage them. Coalition Forces quickly responded killing the three terrorists. Thirteen suspects with alleged ties to the foreign fighter facilitation cell were also detained.
Coalition Forces captured the suspected leader of an al-Qaida in Iraq cell in Mosul. The al-Qaida cell in Mosul reportedly specializes in IED attacks against Coalition Forces. Three others were detained during the raid.
In Karmah, four suspects were detained with reported ties to al-Qaida in Iraq foreign fighter facilitation.
Four others were captured in Arab Jabour, 12 km south of Baghdad, with suspected ties to vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices manufacturing. One suspected terrorist with ties to al-Qaida was captured in Baqubah.
No civilian or Coalition Forces were injured during the raids.
Successful Coalition operations continue to disrupt al-Qaida in Iraq operations, restrict the flow of foreign fighters and reduce the terrorist organization’s manpower pool. The loss of even lower-echelon members diminishes the a-Qaida’s ability to attack innocent civilians as well as Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
One Terrorist Killed, Suspected Senior Al-Qaida Leader Captured
BAGHDAD, Iraq –Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained 17 suspected terrorists during raids Tuesday morning targeting al-Qaida and foreign fighter networks.
In Karabilah, Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained two suspected terrorists while targeting a foreign fighter cell. Ground forces made repeated calls for the occupants of a building to come out. When no one responded, ground forces entered the building and found three men. The men were instructed to surrender and two complied. The third man ignored repeated commands to surrender and reached for a weapon. Coalition Forces used proper self-defense measures and the terrorist was killed.
Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists north of Tarmiyah reportedly associated with an al-Qaida foreign fighter facilitation network. Three individuals with suspected ties to a vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices cell operating near Karmah were captured. This cell is allegedly responsible for multiple rocket and IED attacks against Coalition Forces.
During a raid in Ramadi, Coalition Forces detained six individuals with suspected ties to al-Qaida. Additionally, two suspects were detained in Baghdad with reported ties to VBIED operations. North of Tikrit, Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq regional leader and one other suspect associated with foreign fighter facilitation.
No civilians or Coalition Forces were injured during the raids.
Iraqi Army and Marine mission nets 77 detainees
Multi-National Force – West PAO
CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq –Iraqi Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines wrapped up an intelligence driven mission which resulted in 77 detainees near Habbaniyah Friday. The mission to detain members of murder and intimidation cells was a joint operation with Iraqi Forces and Marines of Regimental Combat Team 6, supported by local Iraqis focused on ridding their towns of insurgents.
During the mission, Soldiers of the 1st Iraqi Army Division and Marines from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment detained individuals suspected of coordinating insurgent attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces. Several of the detainees were immediately identified as persons of special interest according to intelligence reports.
Local citizens informed Iraqi Security Forces of numerous individuals that had a possible connection to insurgent activity. This information ignited the Iraqi Army Soldiers and Marines to plan missions to simultaneously detain possible members of anti-Iraq forces.
“This is a terrific example of Iraqi citizens wanting peaceful neighborhoods as well as a peaceful Iraq,” said Marine Maj. Charles P. Preston, battalion executive officer. “The Iraqi Soldiers performed exceptionally well during this mission and were present from the initial planning to completion. This mission clearly demonstrated an eagerness of Iraqis to provide enduring security for their fellow citizens.”
The detainees were initially taken to Camp Habbaniyah for further questioning. The evidence against 23 for the detainees was strong enough to immediately transport them to the Regimental Detention Facility in Fallujah. The remaining detainees are still being held at Habbaniyah for further questioning and final processing at this time.
During the mission, several weapons caches were found among the detainees to include sniper rifles, rocket propelled grenades and improvised explosive device-making material. The weapons were confiscated and returned to Camp Habbaniyah for disposal.
“We are very proud of the relationship with the citizens of Habbaniyah and the Iraqi Army,” said Regimental Combat Team 6 spokesperson, 1st Lt. Barry L. Edwards. “Our joint missions demonstrate the interoperability of the Iraqi Army and Marines, and remind the terrorists that their presence will not be tolerated.”
Civil Military Cooperation Group in action
Multi-National Division – Central South PAO
QADISIYAH, Iraq – The Polish Civil Military Cooperation Group (CIMIC) of Multinational Division Central South (MND-CS) recently took part in a patrol in the town of Al Hamza, located in Al Qadisiyah province.
The purpose of this patrol was to check the progress of a rehabilitation project on a surface well used by local farmers to irrigate their crops. This project will benefit the locals of 15 Iraqi villages in the Al Hamza region.
CIMIC soldiers worked to solve problems related to the realization of this project, to ensure that it was completed on time and with minimal difficulties. CIMIC Group Commander Lt. Col. Andrzej Dylong, PhD, also met with local Sheikh Hussein Ali Al Shalan. The Sheikh informed Polish officers about economic and social conditions in this part of the province.
“[The] presence of Polish CIMIC Group is well known here. Our local society knows what CIMIC means,” said Sheikh Al Shalan. ”They recognize Poland as humanitarian assistants and as completing projects.”
CIMIC soldiers of MND-CS implement projects that support reconstruction of key infrastructures, such as irrigation, electrification and health care.
“We take care of the realization of projects, which will employ many numbers of Iraqis,” said Lt. Col. Dylong. “We intend to plan projects, which establish new places for job.”
They also organize humanitarian assistance for the poorest people of the MND-CS area of responsibility.
Coalition force members use guided munitions to stop insurgent attack
Multi-National Force – West PAO
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – Coalition force members used guided munitions to stop an insurgent attack 6 km northwest of Khalidiyah Feb. 5.
Coalition force members were attacked with a rocket-propelled grenade which struck a Coalition vehicle. Immediately following the RPG detonation, Coalition force members were attacked with a heavy volume of small arms fire from insurgents in a building across the river. Coalition force members returned fire with small arms fire, machinegun fire and high explosive rounds. When the attack did not cease, Coalition force members used guided munitions against the attackers. The weapon hit the building, destroying it.
The insurgents’ attack continued with small arms fire from an adjacent building and Coalition force members used guided munitions to halt the attack. The weapon struck the building, destroying it and ending the attack.
There were no reports of civilian casualties.
Making streets safer: Engineers help clean up Ghazaliya
2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment
BAGHDAD – Streets in Ghazaliya are cleaner and safer now for residents due to the efforts of the Iraqi Army and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers.
2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, with the help of the 642nd Engineer Company from Fort Drum, N.Y., and elements from the 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army completed Operation Thunder Tide.
This operation was aimed to clear the streets in Ghazaliya of trash and debris that had been a severe problem in the area.
“[I] want everything cleared from along the road, to include pieces of broken curb that have been used in the past to hide bombs,” Lt. Col. James Nickolas, the commander of 2-12 Cavalry, making his intent clear prior to the operation.
“There were two main purposes to this operation,” explained Maj. Dan Rouse, the 2-12th’s operations officer, “One was to provide sanitation on the streets so people have a cleaner area to live. The other was to prevent terrorists from having a convenient place to plant roadside bombs to terrorize the people of Ghazaliya and attack U.S. forces.”
Trash, that had covered an enormous amount of the neighborhood streets, made a good hiding place for explosives.
Operation Thunder Tide began Jan. 26, and lasted for two nights. Parts of three streets in southern Ghazaliya were chosen to be cleaned for the mission. After two nights of clearing, the trash had been removed on these roads.
The operation involved two teams, the clearance team and the sanitation team. Iraqi Army and U.S. Soldiers, acting as the clearance team, searched for bombs ahead of the sanitation team to make sure there were no bombs in the trash piles.
The trash was cleared by the sanitation team with bulldozers and bucket loaders and taken by truck to a dump nearby. The end result makes it easier for route clearance teams to detect bombs on the side of the road in the future, making the sanitation teams a valuable asset to the military mission.
Iraqi Police in Ramadi discover large weapons cache
Multi-National Force – West PAO
RAMADI, Iraq – Members of the Albu Obaid Iraqi Police station discovered one of the largest weapons cache in the last year while conducting dismounted patrols in eastern Ramadi Feb. 3.
The cache consisted of over 300 82mm mortar rounds, three 152mm artillery rounds, two bags of homemade explosives, two Katyusha 107mm rockets, in addition to other items which included a mortar base plate, a spool of copper wire used for detonating improvised explosive devices and various smaller caliber ammunition.
“The Coalition and ISF have discovered many weapons caches over the last six months, but none of this magnitude, said Army Col. Sean MacFarland, commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. “This represents about a six month supply of enemy mortar ammunition. The recent additions to the local Iraqi Security Forces have proven to be a tremendous asset in the fight against the terrorists in and around Ramadi.”
Since the beginning of January, the pace of cache finds by Iraqi Police and Emergency Response Units in the 1/1 AD area of operation has risen dramatically. In just two months, the Iraqi Police and the Emergency Response Units have found almost 600 mortar rounds of various sizes, 35 large artillery rounds and rockets, 15 IEDs and two missiles. The IPs have accounted for over 80 percent of the munitions discovered in this time period.
“I’ve been on multiple patrols and seen a lot of stuff, but the thing that excites me the most about this is that the Iraqis are stepping up to the plate on their own. I mean, we found over 60 caches last month of which 35 were found by the Iraqi Security Forces. This is the kind of thing that is going to get me home,” said SPC Stephen Steed, a 21-year-old Portland, Indiana native responsible for mentoring Iraqi policemen.
“The success of the cache discoveries by the Iraqi Police in the last month can be attributed to the increase of locally recruited Iraqi police officers getting out there beating the streets, looking for the bad guys and tips received from the local citizens throughout Ramadi,” said Major Eric Remoy staff officer for 1-1 AD. Our cache finds six months ago typically consisted of one or two small weapons caches per week. The strength of the Iraqi Police in the Ramadi area has grown approximately 1100 percent in the last six months. We are now finding caches at a rate of two caches per day, or a 600 percent increase.”
Iraqi Soldiers, U.S. troops find weapons cache near Abu Ghuraib
1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
CAMP TAJI, Iraq—Iraqi Army troops and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers discovered a weapons cache in an industrial area north of Abu Ghuraib Feb. 3.
Iraqi troops with the 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment were performing a joint patrol when the cache was discovered.
The find yielded 250 81mm mortar rounds, 100 120mm mortar rounds and one 81mm mortar tube.
The Iraqi troops working in cooperation with the 2-5 Cavalry Soldiers are searching for those responsible for the hiding the weapons.
Tags:
Iraq
MNF Iraq
Al Qaeda
War on Terror
Iraqi Army
101st Fighting Keyboardists
A few previous posts on this: first off here oh and here! oh and here oh more here oh and also here oh and here oh and here oh and also here
0 people have spoken:
Post a Comment