Good news from Iraq

Still the BBC fail to report any of this...

BAGHDAD — The city of Diwaniyah belongs to the people once again - a city where people walk the streets at night without fear or intimidation; a city where children go to the parks to play. It’s a city without “them” - the militants, terrorists, criminals and thugs that surrounded the city and its citizens in a cloak of fear.

Over the past several weeks, 8th Iraqi Army Soldiers joined forces with Iraqi Special Operations Forces, Iraqi Emergency Response Units (ERU) and Iraqi Police to rid the city of these “bad men,” a common term used to describe those militants and criminals. The joining of forces was part of Operation Lion Pounce - a series of ongoing operations in and around Diwaniyah to disrupt, isolate and neutralize militant, insurgent and criminal organizations.

Operation Lion Pounce sought “to get the city back to the way it was before - a city that was quiet and peaceful,” said Col. Hasan Abbas Tofan Sultan Al-Fatlawi, 8th Iraqi Army chief of staff.

“People were scared,” the colonel added, sweeping his hand across a map of Diwaniyah. “Many of them were under the control of the militants. They were forced to give up any money they had and were forced to give up their possessions and their homes. Sometimes they were forced to help carry out militant operations.”

Although Colonel Hasan didn’t say it outright, those who resisted the militants’ demands were harassed, abused or likely killed. In fact, there were places in Diwaniyah so heavily entrenched by militants that even Iraqi Soldiers dared not to enter by themselves.

“There were troops who hadn’t been home in more than two years, knowing if they ever tried to return either they or their families would be killed,” the colonel said.

Iraqi Special Operations Forces and ERUs, accompanied by U.S. Special Forces advisors, launched their first Lion Pounce raid in mid-November with additional missions following in rapid succession the following nights. The battle to restore law and order meant going directly to the source of the problem - rooting out militants and criminals where they hid, arresting them and bringing them to justice.

So far, operations have led to the capture of more than 150 suspects. Colonel Hasan suspects these Soldiers and police forces will catch many more as they flush these militants from their hiding places.

“We have broken the base of these terrorists,” the colonel said. “We have broken their networks, and we have captured their leaders.”

Those captured during the raids are charged with a variety of crimes, including bomb making, planning and conducting ambushes against Iraqi and Coalition forces, and kidnapping and murdering Iraqi citizens. One mission conducted Nov. 16 by an Iraqi ERU led to the capture of two alleged militants responsible for illegally selling weapons and targeting and killing Iraqi National Guard Soldiers. The same unit then arrested a suspected member of an extremist sniper and ambush group south of Diwaniyah during a raid Nov. 18.

“We know there are bad men out there that are still hiding, but they have lost their war against us,” Colonel Hasan said.

To date, Operation Lion Pounce remains a lop-sided battle with suspects quickly captured and no friendly injuries or casualties. Colonel Hasan credits effective mission planning and growing experience of his Soldiers as reasons why they remain safe and successful. He also praised the cohesiveness of the Iraqi Police and Soldiers, whose ability to work together and share critical information made a significant difference in this operation’s success.

In addition to pulling suspects off the streets, Iraqi military and police forces uncovered weapons caches stashed throughout the city. Counting on his fingers, Colonel Hasan rattled off the many types of illegal weapons recovered so far. In addition to assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and sniper rifles recovered at these scenes, Soldiers discovered a significant number of mortar shells, grenades, rockets and rocket launchers along with a large amount of bomb-making materials like blasting caps, detonation wire and TNT.

The colonel estimates his Soldiers have uncovered about 75 percent of hidden caches, and they remain determined to find the remaining 25 percent. Hasan sees a vastly different city than it was a few weeks ago. He glanced out of his office window, paused a moment then returned to his chair as he reflected on the progress to date.

“The citizens of Diwaniyah are very happy and comfortable as we bring back security to this city,” the colonel said. “People are not afraid to walk the streets at night. They are shopping at the markets, and children are going back to school. Things are almost back to normal. People know that no one is going to try to shoot them. They know we won’t let that happen.”

Another positive sign: New businesses look to open their doors in Diwaniyah. Among these commercial ventures are real estate companies - something the city hasn’t seen in many years since people were afraid of moving due to the persistent militant threat, he said.

Operation Lion Pounce reaped other benefits. No longer fearing retribution by “bad men,” citizens across the city are fighting back in their own way by providing vital information on the whereabouts of these suspects to Iraqi Police and Soldiers.

“(Before) they were afraid of intimidation and had no way to respond or fight back,” the colonel said. “They started seeing things getting done … and began to report on all the bad men in Diwaniyah.”

The colonel credits intelligence reports and critical information provided by Iraqi citizens as keys to making these missions so successful. To maintain the peace, Iraqi Police Officers will soon open small bases across the city to provide around-the-clock response should criminals or militants attempt to sneak back into the city. They’re more than a simple checkpoint, according

to the colonel. They feature the same capabilities of a regular police station, but in a scaled-down version.

“It allows militants no safe places to hide while allowing our police the capability to quickly respond,” the colonel said.

(Story by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brian S. Orban, Multi-National Corps – Iraq Public Affairs)

Coalition forces disrupts al-Qaeda networks; 12 killed, 13 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed 12 terrorists and detained 13 suspects during operations Saturday to disrupt al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.

During an operation south of Yusufiyah, Coalition forces targeted a suspected associate of an al-Qaeda leader involved in the network operating south of Bagdad. The network is believed to be involved in planning an attack against Coalition forces operating in the region. As Coalition forces approached the area, they observed several armed men emerge from the target building, maneuvering into military style positions into a nearby palm grove. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged.

As the ground force began to clear the area, they saw additional movement from the armed men, to include one that attempted to maneuver away and evade capture. Coalition forces called for supporting aircraft to engage the perceived hostile threat. During the engagements, a total of ten terrorists were killed. Once the area was secure, the ground force discovered numerous machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, and several sandbags full of homemade explosive material, which were safely destroyed on site. Additionally, two suspected terrorists were detained during the course of operations.

North of Jalula, Coalition forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq member believed to be involved in the terrorist network operating in the Diyala River Valley. The targeted individual is reportedly associated with senior terrorist members and involved in attacks against Coalition and Iraqi security forces.

During the operation, as Coalition forces approached the target, several men emerged and ran into a nearby palm grove. The ground force located one of the individuals and called for him to stop his movement, but he did not comply. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged, killing him. Upon clearing the target area, the ground forces discovered a small cache of ammunition.

Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader tied to a network of senior leaders in the region. Reports indicate the targeted individual has a history of involvement in terrorist activities and has held positions in numerous al-Qaeda networks operating in the city.

As the ground force entered one of the buildings in the target area, an individual was injured as he attempted to flee the building. He was treated on site, but died before being transported to a medical facility. Additionally, three suspected terrorists were detained on site without incident.

During another operation, Coalition forces detained eight suspected terrorists in Samarra while targeting a senior foreign terrorist facilitator with ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders.

“We’re continuing to take the fight to the enemy,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “Our operations are diminishing al-Qaeda’s ability to attack the Iraqi people and the forces that protect them.”

Tip leads MND-B Soldiers to large cache in Ameriyah

By Sgt. Jack Androski

1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Acting on a tip from area volunteers, Coalition Forces uncovered the second largest weapons cache ever discovered by Task Force 1-5 Cavalry in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Ameriyah late on Dec. 3.

The tip came from members of the Forsan Al Rafidain (Arabic for “knights of the two rivers’), an Iraqi volunteer security force in the area.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), uncovered a cache consisting of several different types of anti-tank mines, grenades and a large quantity of improvised explosive device-making material.

The cache included 95 landmines as well as an assortment of different rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades. The last time a cache of this size was found in Ameriyah was in late summer, during the most intense fighting between Al Qaeda and Coalition Forces.

After the cache was uncovered, a Forsan Al Rafidain member received a phone call stating there was an IED in the area. After a brief search, one pressure-plate IED was found on the front porch of the house where the weapons cache was discovered.

The munitions uncovered were destroyed in a controlled detonation by an explosive ordnance disposal team Dec. 4.

Al-Qaeda networks disrupted; Coalition forces detain 10 suspects

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured three wanted individuals and seven additional suspects during operations Sunday to disrupt al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.

During two coordinated operations in Baghdad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual and three suspected terrorists. The wanted individual is an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader associated with media operations and propaganda.

Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces captured another wanted individual believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader. He was allegedly involved in the terrorist network operating in the city and is thought to have ties to other terrorist leaders operating throughout northern Iraq. One of his associates reportedly provides weapons and improvised explosive device materials to the cell leaders for use in attacks in the area. In addition to the wanted individual, two other suspected terrorists were detained without incident.

During continued operations to disrupt terrorist networks in the Diyala River Valley, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader for the network in Khan Bani Sad. Two of the wanted individuals’ close associates were recently detained by Coalition forces during operations Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 for their involvement in the network.

Two suspected terrorists were detained during an operation south of Salman Pak targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader involved in facilitation of weapons and attacks on Coalition and Iraqi security forces.

“Iraqi and Coalition forces are targeting terrorists at every level,” said Col. Don Bacon, MNF-I spokesman. “The people of Iraq have chosen their future and al-Qaeda is not a part of it.”

Troops stop alleged al-Qaeda operatives returning to Rashid

4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. PAO

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers arrested two men who were suspected terrorists attempting to infiltrate back into the Rashid District Dec. 6.

“Warriors” of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and “Tuskers” from Company B, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, both attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., made the arrest of the alleged al-Qaeda operatives after receiving a tip from an informant.

In the Doura region, the “Warriors” raided a home and detained an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq member suspected of multiple murders. Iraqi Security Volunteers believe the suspect was in the neighborhood trying to re-organize a new terrorist group in the area.

After a fire fight in Saydiyah, the Tuskers detained a man who the Iraqi Army believes may be a member of a radical AQI splinter group.

During a patrol, the Soldiers and members of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division were shot at from a home, and returned fire.

Upon clearing the house, Soldiers found a blood trail that led them to the suspect armed with a pistol and a hand grenade.

All of the detainees were held for further questioning.

Iraqi Army, Coalition Forces oust insurgents in Hawr Rajab, Arab Jabour

Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky

2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO

Multi-National Division – Center PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Several Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces operations led to the reduction of enemy fighters and insurgent resources Dec. 5 in Hawr Rajab and Arab Jabour.

In Hawr Rajab, Soldiers of Troop B, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Stewart, Ga., detained four individuals during Operation Rounders, an overnight operation involving a neighborhood search for insurgents and weapons.

“This is pushing our operations into the east,” said 1st Lt. Ryan Resslera, from Cincinnati, Ohio, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 6-8th Cav. Regt., executive officer. “This is giving us a foothold to better help the people.”

The four detainees were taken in for questioning at Forward Operating Base Falcon.

In another mission in Hawr Rajab, an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon supporting the 6-8th Cav. Regt. destroyed an illegal canal crossing point with a GBU-31 laser guided smart bomb. Such crossings are often used by insurgent forces to circumnavigate Coalition Force checkpoints.

In Arab Jabour, Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, conducted several operations to eliminate insurgent resources.

Soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment located an improvised explosive device while conducting a presence patrol in the area.

The IED consisted of two 57 mm projectiles attached to a detonation cord.

Another IED was discovered by Concerned Local Citizens and reported to Soldiers of Company B, 1-30th Inf. Regt. While investigating the initial IED, an explosive ordnance disposal team in support of the Soldiers located a cache of 100 pounds of unknown bulk explosives.

Both the IED, which consisted of one anti-personnel mine with two 155 mm artillery rounds stacked beneath, and the explosives were destroyed in a controlled detonation.

Nearby, CLCs also discovered another weapons cache.

The cache consisted of four 120 mm mortar rounds, two 60 mm mortar rounds, two 57 mm projectiles with detonation cord attached and one rocket-propelled grenade.

The citizens took the cache to Soldiers of Company D, 1-30th Inf. Regt., who were conducting an overwatch in the area.

In a separate event, an air weapons team was called in by Soldiers of the 833rd Military Transition Team. The team, which is training Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, called for the strike after being engaged by small-arms fire from two buildings and two mud huts.

The structures were engaged by an Apache helicopter’s 30 mm cannons and Hellfire missiles, killing three insurgents. No Coalition Forces were injured in the attack.

“The training they are receiving is helping them and that training is enabling them to take care of their area,” said Capt. Shane Williams, 833rd MiTT operations officer.

Williams, a native of Plant City, Fla., said although the IA still needs some U.S. enablers such as close air support, on the ground, the Iraqis were able to handle themselves superbly.

CLCs, Iraqi Army turn large cache over to U.S. troops (Yusufiyah)

Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy

3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT)

Multi-National Division – Center PAO

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – A large cache of mortar and artillery rounds, as well as 80 pounds of homemade explosives, were turned in by Concerned Local Citizens to U. S. forces at Forward Operating Base Yusufiyah Dec. 6.

This was the third occurrence in as many days of local residents handing explosives over to the Iraqi Army who in turn gave them to American Soldiers for disposal.

The find included 36 rocket-propelled grenades, 45 cannon rounds, 16 sticks of dynamite, a trigger mechanism and pressure plate, and additional homemade bomb-making materials.

The stash was turned in to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

“It is very promising to see the Concerned Local Citizens and Iraqi Army out there on the battlefield trying to get rid of the bad guys and the ammunition to destroy U.S. Soldiers and innocent Iraqis,” said Sgt Michael Waters, Co. C, 3-187th Inf. Regt.

Two smaller caches were collected Dec. 3 in separate incidents. In one instance, CLCs approached Company A, 3-187th Inf. Regt., with two rocket-propelled grenade launchers and several mortar rounds.

In the second incident, the Iraqi Army turned over a variety of mortar and artillery rounds to Co. C., 3-187th Inf. Regt. Local citizens turned the ammunition in to the Iraqi Army.

“These guys are passionate about getting their country back to normalcy where the economy will be able to support men and women who want to go out to work to feed their families without fear,” said Pfc. Joshua Turner, Co. C, 3-187th Inf. Regt.

Coalition force operations disrupt al-Qaeda networks; 27 suspects detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured four wanted individuals and 23 additional suspects during operations Sunday and Monday targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.

During continued efforts to disrupt al-Qaeda networks in the capital city, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual and one additional suspect during an operation in Baghdad. The wanted individual is allegedly involved in al-Qaeda in Iraq propaganda and media operations and is a close associate of a suspect detained on Dec. 9.

In Taji, Coalition forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader also involved in the terrorist networks in Baghdad. Reports indicate he is a close associate of senior terrorists in a network operating in northern Baghdad. This network is responsible for the majority of car-bombing and improvised explosive device attacks in the area, and is involved in extortion, intimidation, weapons trafficking and the facilitation of foreign terrorists. One additional suspect was detained during the operation.

Northwest of Mansuriyah, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual allegedly associated with the al-Qaeda in Iraq network operating in Muqdadiyah and involved in foreign terrorist facilitation. The wanted individual is reportedly an associate of several al-Qaeda members previously detained by Coalition forces for their role in networks operating in the Diyala River Valley.

During operations in Samarra, Bayji and Hawija, Coalition forces detained 14 suspected terrorists and wounded one while targeting associates of propaganda and media operations, car-bombing cells, and foreign terrorist and weapons facilitation networks. During the operation in Bayji, the ground force received hostile fire from a building in the target area and returned fire in self-defense, wounding one. The suspect was detained, treated on site and transported to a military medical facility.

On Sunday, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual in Mosul believed to be a foreign terrorist facilitator associated with senior facilitators operating in and outside of Iraq. The wanted individual is reportedly involved in the facilitation of supplies and finances for use in attacks against Coalition forces. As the ground force entered the target building, the wanted individual attempted to leave through the back door. Coalition forces engaged to stop his movement, wounding and subsequently detaining him. The individual was treated and transported to a nearby military medical facility. In addition to the wanted individual, six suspects were detained.

“Iraqi is still a violent place beset by many challenges,” said Capt. Vic Beck, MNF-I spokesman. “We will continue to conduct operations that diminish al-Qaeda’s ability to attack innocent Iraqis.”

Concerned Local Citizen’s tip leads Coalition Forces to IED cache
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – A tip from a member of the Jamia Concerned Local Citizens’ security force led Coalition Forces to a cache of munitions, improvised explosive devices and IED-making materials in the Jamia neighborhood of Baghdad Dec. 5.

The member of the CLC noticed an unusual blanket covering possible weapons in the driveway of a home the day prior while playing soccer, and gave this information to Coalition Forces at Joint Security Station Bonzai.

Responding to the information, Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment followed the CLC to the location, where they found anti-tank mines, mortar and artillery rounds, explosive materials, IED-initiating systems, and two complete IEDs ready for emplacement. This was the first large cache found in the neighborhood in the past several weeks.

The tip from the CLC is the first of its kind from the security force that began operations less than two weeks ago.

“Without this concerned citizen coming forward and giving us the information about suspicious activity in his neighborhood, we might not have located this cache before its contents were used to attack Coalition or Iraqi Forces,” said 1st Lt. Mike Kelly, a platoon leader for Company B, 1-64th AR.

The Jamia CLC security force is in the early stages of its formation, and is currently undergoing on-the-job training with Co. B, and the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division.

Once the force is certified by Iraqi Army leadership as trained, they will begin conducting 24-hour joint operations with the Iraqi Army at traffic control points throughout the Jamia neighborhood.

“We expect more tips like this to come in from CLCs once they begin full-time operations,” Kelly said. “That should lead to a significant increase in the security of the neighborhood.”

Tags:Iraq
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