More Iraq News

Tip leads to four captured AIF

TIKRIT, Iraq – A tip from citizens led Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division and 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division to four individuals suspected of attacking troops near Hawija the morning of Jan. 11.

Coalition forces cordoned off an area southeast of Hawija while the Iraqi Soldiers searched for several individuals who were reportedly behind sniper attacks in the region.

Four men were picked up along with two AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, eight different identification cards, a pair of binoculars and several forms of AIF propaganda.

The men were detained for interviews.

Weapons caches found, suspects detained

TIKRIT, Iraq – Three weapons caches were discovered and 21 anti-Iraqi forces suspects were detained in northern Iraq Jan 11.

Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment conducted a raid against a suspected AIF cell in Tal Afar just after midnight Jan. 11. The unit discovered two mortar rounds, a large supply of small-arms ammunition and a home-made mine. Seven men were detained at the site.

Two separate raids in Mosul by Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team resulted in the capture of eight AIF suspects, including one believed to be involved with mortar attacks against civilian targets in the area.

Two other Mosul residents are being credited with discovering a cache of anti-tank mines after reporting what they believed to be an IED to local police. Police officers secured the area and an Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal unit responded and found 20 AT mines and an artillery round.

Another Iraqi EOD team in Kirkuk was called in the morning of Jan. 11 to dispose of a collection of old munitions discovered in the back of a truck. Eighteen artillery shells and two mortar rounds were safely destroyed.

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division captured three suspects near a weapons cache in the Tikrit area Jan. 11. The cache, consisting of mortar rounds and rockets, was discovered near an area where numerous rocket and mortar attacks have originated.

An ineffective rocket attack against a base near Balad led to the capture of three more AIF suspects. Soldiers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division stopped the suspects' vehicle after a coalition aircraft observed them trying to flee the area.

Iraqi Soldiers detain terrorist, discover weapons cache

BAGHDAD , Iraq – Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 6th Iraqi Army Division, supported by Task Force Ironhorse Soldiers, detained a suspected terrorist and discovered a weapons cache during a raid north of Baghdad at approximately
2 a.m. Jan. 12.

The Iraqi soldiers and Soldiers from a military training team with 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment received fire from insurgents, but quickly suppressed the firefight and captured one suspect.

The Iraqi soldiers also discovered three improvised explosive devices, four mortar tubes, 50 mortar rounds, four rocket propelled grenade launchers, 30 RPG rounds, 50 AK-47 rifles, 10 rocket launchers, 10 rockets, 200 grenades, one RPK machine gun, six sticks of C-4 explosives, an unknown amount of TNT, one 152mm round, one tazer and Iraqi Army uniforms and identification cards.

Leaders remain optimistic; Forces see continued success

Iraqi policeman and a soldier from the 101st Division search a house during sweeps in the Zafaraniya district, Baghdad, Iraq. The sweeps are conducted to search out weapons and items used in the making of IED's during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Released) (US Army photo by Private First Class William Servinski II).

Story by Staff Sgt. David Green
MNF-Iraq.com

BAGHDAD - Gen. George Casey, commander of Multi-National Force - Iraq, said the sectarian tension and terrorist violence in recent days was “an anomaly” and remained optimistic and hopeful of the democratic processes that took root in Iraq over the past year.

In an interview with CNN today, Gen. Casey stated, “(Iraqis) are in a vulnerable period during the formation of the government, but I don't think it's on the brink of civil war.”

“I think we can't let what's happened in the last few days distract us from the progress that's been made over the last year. That's what the terrorists want," he said, referring to terror attacks this week that killed more than 120 people, including 11 US troops.

Casey went on to say that high turn-out in the December elections were a “hopeful trend”.

The comments come on the heels of a week of horrendous terrorist violence aimed primarily at defenseless civilians, attacking pilgrims outside a mosque in Karbala, a funeral procession in Diyala, and a long line of potential recruits in Ramadi waiting to apply for positions as policemen to help bring peace and stability to the country.

The violence has not hampered progress being made by Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces that continue the work of securing the country

According to a MNF-I releases, Iraqi police successfully raided the home of a bombing suspect and seized a large cache of weapons Jan. 5 in Kirkuk. Acting on a tip, police officers moved to the location and quickly discovered artillery rounds and nearly $1,000 in U.S. and Iraqi currency. Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team assisted the police in disposing of the weapons and explosives.

In Baghdad, MNF-I Soldiers working at a check point designed to stop the flow of weapons and the movement of terrorists in Baghdad on Jan. 4 questioned two men and detained one when they fled their vehicle and tried to escape. After conducting a vehicle search, Soldiers found four AK-47s, two grenades, material for building improvised explosive devices and a global positioning system. Soldiers detained one of the suspects, seized the weapons and removed the vehicle.

During other security activities in Baghdad on Jan. 4, Soldiers seized a significant amount of weapons, to include one cache that was so large a controlled detonation was needed to destroy it on the spot. The cache was discovered while conducting a routine patrol in south Baghdad.

Soldiers patrolling north of Baghdad discovered a second cache at approximately 3 p.m., which included 22 surface-to-air missiles and 5,000 rounds of ammunition. The Soldiers seized control of the cache and rendered the area safe.

Elsewhere, Iraqi Security forces rounded up weapons and detained suspected terrorist.

Soldiers from the Iraqi Army seized two caches in different parts of the country

The caches consisted of dozens of artillery and mortar rounds, several rockets, fuses, cordless and cell phones, a gas mask and timers.

Iraqi police in Kirkuk discovered a weapons cache after a tip lead them to an individual possessing explosives.

The Police raided the man’s house and found more artillery rounds and explosives, $860, 147,000 Iraqi dinar and a notebook containing over 140 names.

The suspect was detained pending further investigation by authorities and the police were arranging with the military to dispose of the ordnance.

All the caches were destroyed preventing terrorist the opportunity to bring harm to Iraqi civilians and Coalition Forces.

Iraqi Police celebrate new station opening

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Donald Sparks
3rd U.S. Cavalry

TAL AFAR — With one quick snip of the scissors, Tal Afar Police Chief Gen. Fawaz Mahmoud Issa officially opened the new Al Salam Police Station during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Tal Afar.

The event marked a milestone for Tal Afar’s police department as part of efforts to restore the city’s quality of life and security.

Last year terrorists destroyed a police station in Tal Afar, but the opening of the new station represents a resurrection of the police force according to city officials.

“We’re very thankful for the Coalition Forces for their support in building this police station,” said Tal Afar Mayor’s Assistant Gen. Sabah Hamidi Mohammed. “We also want to thank the military police for their training of our police officers and police force.”

The new police station building features a holding cell, an arms room, investigation and intelligence cells, an interrogation room and an information desk. Currently 180 Iraqi Police officers will be assigned to the station, with an additional 60 officers scheduled to be added to the force.

Posters featuring the Iraqi Police Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics adorned the walls of the new station.

The opening of the station brings personal satisfaction and accomplishment for Capt. Carlie Ortego, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, who recruited and trained the Iraqi Police and served as the project manager of the station.

“When we [3rd ACR] first got here, we thought we might open three police stations in Tal Afar,” said Ortego, from Lafayette, La. “But before we leave, we’ll have three up and running, with six more scheduled to open shortly after our departure. It’s just amazing.”

Ortego said when the regiment arrived in April there were approximately 200 police in the city, but now there are more than 600 on the ground and another 900 at police academies in Jordan and Mosul.

“We had some early obstacles related to security upon our arrival,” Ortego said. “But after the successful operations two months ago [Operation Restoring Rights], it allowed my job to flourish and for me to get the Iraqi Police all the resources they needed.”

The opening of the station also allowed Ortego to keep a promise she made to the Iraqi Police.

“I told them to be patient as we were standing up the police force,” she said. “I promised them new equipment and a new building and here it is. This building will give them the motivation to do their jobs and it shows we believe in them. I kept my word.”

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