Good News From Iraq

Release A060521a
Tips lead Coalition Forces to ‘IED factory;' 6 terrorists killed, 3 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Based on tips, Coalition Forces located and killed six terrorists, detained three and destroyed a safe house and multiple weapons caches in Ramadi during a search May 17 for a wanted terrorist known as the “Prince of IEDs.” The troops began taking fire immediately upon their arrival at the site where the al-Qaida leader and his associates were allegedly building improvised explosive devices.

During the course of the fighting, the troops took direct fire from various areas. The forces neutralized the threat with small arms fire, killing six and detaining three terrorists, one of whom was wounded and medically evacuated. The troops ultimately destroyed the identified safe house, which contained a large amount of lethal material, with precision bombs. The forces also attacked a second safe haven, neutralizing the threat by ground and damaging the structure with air strikes.

After securing the targeted safe house, the troops found one heavy machine gun, two medium machine guns, rifles, a pistol, artillery shells, IED material, large oxygen tanks configured as IEDs, a suicide vest, rocket propelled grenades and one launcher. Large amounts of discarded automobile parts were also present in the structure further indicating that cars were likely being configured into vehicle-borne IEDs in keeping with the tips provided to Coalition Forces. Additionally, the troops discovered equipment and material used for making remote controlled IEDs. The terrorists' equipment, weapons and ammunition were destroyed by ground charges and air strikes.

The troops also discovered an unharmed 8-year-old boy inside the safe house after they either killed or detained the terrorists at the primary site. The child told the Soldiers he was being held against his will by these terrorists who abused and made him conduct minor tasks. The forces took the boy to their base, provided him care, and then arranged for transportation for the boy's return to his actual residence.

The targeted individual, “The Prince of IEDs,” is reported to be a financier, an IED maker and a bomb facilitator for al-Qaida in Iraq in Ramadi. Coalition Forces are currently assessing the identities of the dead and detained.

One of the three terrorists detained received a gunshot wound to his shoulder. He was evacuated to a medical facility for further treatment.

Release A060521b
Search yields IED-making cache
TIKRIT, Iraq – Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers seized a large cache of weapons, explosives, munitions and other improvised explosive device-making components during a raid in Mosul May 20.

Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team conducted a cordon and search of a suspected vehicle-borne IED factory, where they found the large cache, which included 17 AK-47s, four rocket-propelled grenade launchers, nine submachine guns, four land mines, fifteen 60 mm mortar rounds, five hand grenades and two cases of ball bearings.

An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the cache in the basement of the building where it was found.

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Combined raid successful in Muqdadiyah
TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, and troops from 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, captured a small arsenal and detained several men May 20 in Muqdadiyah.

The Soldiers worked together using numerous forms of information to compile a solid operation to capture anti-Iraqi force's cell members and recover whatever munitions they possessed.

Two objectives in the operation bore a large cache that included 19 mortar rounds, more than 4,000 small arms rounds, 34 pounds of bulk explosives, hand grenades, various improvised explosive device-making materials, propaganda materials, RPG warheads and a launcher.

An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed most of the cache on site and recovered many other pieces for study and future destruction.

Twelve men, all suspected of terrorism in the Diyala province, were detained and taken to a nearby Iraqi detention facility.

Iraqi and Coalition Forces completed this operation with no injuries to any group involved, including the AIF.

Release A060521d
Iraqi Army Soldiers graduate five-week medical course
CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq – Iraqi Soldiers graduated the Iraqi Army Basic Medical Course May 17, certifying them as the first batch of Iraqi Army medics who will serve with Iraqi military units throughout Western al Anbar province.

The plan is to have about 150 trained Iraqi medics by year's end to serve with Iraqi Army battalions partnered with U.S. military units throughout the province.

Twenty Iraqi Soldiers – all from battalions within the 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division – received certificates of completion during a ceremony at the Iraqis' military base here.

The five-week course, which consisted of more than 200 hours of classroom time and countless practical application and written exams, is designed to teach the Soldiers how to respond both under fire and provide tactical field care, such as applying tourniquets and battle dressings, opening airways to allow breathing, and patient triage.

Both U.S. and Iraqi military commanders lauded the Soldiers' achievement, and noted that the Soldiers' graduation was a further sign of progress within the Iraqi Army.

“The entire Iraqi Army will be watching to see how you perform,” said Col. W. Blake Crowe, commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 7. “To be a medic is a higher calling. It's easier to just be a Soldier. You must treat and protect the wounded.”

“You are going to help to recover the injured and any Soldiers who are wounded,” said Iraqi Staff Brig. Gen. Bassim, commanding general, 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division. “This is a great job.”

Additionally, 12 Iraqi Soldiers graduated from a Humvee licensing course just hours after the medics' graduation. The dozen Iraqi Soldiers had to log-in about 250 miles of road time behind the wheels of the Humvees to graduate.

The course was the first taught solely by an Iraqi Army instructor. More than 20 Iraqi Soldiers graduated from a similar, month-long Humvee licensing and maintenance course early last month, which was taught by U.S. Marines from Regimental Combat Team 7.

That course qualified Iraqi Soldiers to teach a more abbreviated version of the course to other Soldiers. The 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division received 24 Humvees in early April following the initial graduation.

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