Saturday, September 10
13 SUSPECTED SCUZBALLS NABBED, WEAPON TAKEN IN NORTHERN IRAQ
| September 10, 2005 MOSUL, Iraq – Task Force Freedom detained 13 suspected terrorists in operations in northern Iraq Sept. 8 and 9. During a raid Sept. 9, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment detained a terror suspect in western Mosul. Multi-National Forces and Iraqi Army Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division detained seven terror suspects after receiving small arms fire in Ganus Sept. 8. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment detained five terror suspects during separate operations in eastern Mosul. The weapon was confiscated for future destruction. Suspects are in custody. |
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LOW MUCKETY-MUCK SCUZBALL BELIEVED TO SLEEP WITH THE DESERT SPIDERS, NOW
| September 10, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Air Forces destroyed an al-Qaida terrorist safe house in the Ubaydi, in western Iraq Sept. 10. A senior al-Qaida terror consultant and foreign fighter facilitator known as “Sheik” is believed to have been in the house at the time of the attack. Sheik has been linked to other senior al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists and foreign fighter facilitators operating throughout the Euphrates Valley. Intelligence sources confirmed that Sheik was specifically brought in to the Husaybah area to consult with Abu Islam (the recently deceased Emir) and Abu Ibrahim (Islam’s brother and successor) on managing terror operations in the area. Sheik has been known to have extensive connections throughout the Middle East to include Yemen, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Syria. From those countries his connections recruited and financed foreign fighters who were later smuggled into Iraq, usually through Syria, and subsequently delivered to various terrorist groups in western Iraq. Coalition air assets delivered precision guided munitions to destroy the house. The type of munitions used and the timing of the air strike lowered the risk to civilians in the local area. |
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Friday, September 9
AIR SUPPORT ROUNDUP, WAR ON TERROR, 09-08-2005
| September 8, 2005 IRAQ: Coalition aircraft flew 50 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Sept. 8 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force F-16s provided close air support to Coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Hit. The F-16s expended one GBU-12, successfully destroying an enemy mortar position. U.S. Air Force F-16s and U.S. Navy F/A-18s provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Al Majarr Al Kabir, Qayyarah, Rawah, and Tuz Khurmatu. Eight U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. AFGHANISTAN: Coalition aircraft flew 24 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included supporting Coalition and Afghan troops, the parliamentary and provincial election process, and reconstruction activities, and providing presence route patrol. Sorties included Royal Air Force GR-7s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinity of Qalat. Seven U.S. Air Force and French Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. Approximately 185 airlift sorties were flown, moving more than 350 short tons of cargo and nearly 4,280 passengers. Coalition C-130 crews from the United Kingdom and Australia flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On Sept. 7, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Singapore Air Force, and French Air Force tankers flew 39 sorties and offloaded more than 2.2 million pounds of fuel. |
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AIR SUPPORT ROUNDUP, WAR ON TERROR, 09-07-2005
| September 7, 2005 IRAQ: Coalition aircraft flew 54 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Sept. 7 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force F-16s performed a strike in the vicinity of Al Qaim. The F-16s successfully expended two GBU-38s against anti-Iraqi forces. Other U.S. Air Force F-16s and a Predator provided close air support to Coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinities of Ad Duluiyah and Baquba. Additional sorties included U.S. Air Force F-16s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Mosul, Tuz Khurmata, and Samarra. Ten U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. AFGHANISTAN: Coalition aircraft flew 16 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition and Afghan troops, support to the parliamentary and provincial election process, and providing presence route patrol to include border security and reconstruction activities. Other sorties included U.S. Air Force A-10s and B-52s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Qalat and Shkin. Seven U.S. Air Force and French Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role. U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. About 150 airlift sorties were flown, moving more than 280 short tons of cargo and more than 3,475 passengers. Coalition C-130 crews from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the Republic of Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On Sept. 6, U.S. Air Force and British Air Force tankers flew 31 sorties and offloaded nearly 2 million pounds of fuel. |
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AIR SUPPORT ROUNDUP, WAR ON TERROR, 09-06-2005
| September 6, 2005 IRAQ:Coalition aircraft flew 36 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Sept. 6 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force F-16s performed a strike in the vicinity of Al Jaramil. The F-16s successfully expended two GBU-38s against anti-Iraqi forces. Other U.S. Air Force F-16s provided close air support to Coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Hawija. Ten U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. Afghanistan: Coalition aircraft flew 27 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Air Force A-10s and a Predator provided close air support to Coalition ground forces in contact with anti-Coalition militia in the vicinity of Oruzgan. The A-10s expended 244 30 mm cannon rounds with successful effects. Other sorties included U.S. Air Force A-10s, Royal Air Force GR-7s, and French Air Force M-2000s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Oruzgan and Gari Kalay. Eight U.S. Air Force and French Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role. U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. More than 150 airlift sorties were flown, moving more than 420 short tons of cargo and nearly 3,745 passengers. Coalition C-130 crews from the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On Sept. 5, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force and Singapore Air Force tankers flew 31 sorties and offloaded more than 1.8 million pounds of fuel. |
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ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROJECTS CREATE JOBS, STABILITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN IRAQ
| September 9, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq - Stabilization of the Mosul Dam continues with an additional $20 million in Iraq Reconstruction and Relief Funds allocated this week for that purpose. The Iraq Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Electricity have made the dam a top priority for the region. The largest dam in Iraq, Mosul earthen dam holds back upwards of 12 billion cubic meters of water for the arid western Ninewah Province while creating hydroelectric power for the 1.7 million residents of Mosul. This reconstruction project includes an upgrade of specialized maintenance equipment, seismic monitors, materials and spare parts. A training element is included with the aid package, which will help make the project self-sustaining in the future. Completed in 1983, the dam has required maintenance to plug or “grout” areas of leakage on a regular basis. Without this needed work, the dam could develop problems over time with the possibility of a catastrophic failure. An event of this magnitude would be profound, devastating the rich agricultural valley of the Tigris and endangering the population of Mosul. New automatic grout-injection equipment included in the project will help arrest seepage under the dam. Seismic equipment will provide information to monitor the dam’s stability. Both types of work are critical in continuing flood protection, irrigating farmland, and maintaining sufficient water to generate 320 MW of electricity. An Iraqi contractor has been selected for this important work as part of an effort to encourage local economic development and jobs. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will provide engineering and quality-control oversight from Gulf Region North near the city of Mosul. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2006. At the time of transfer of sovereignty in June 2004 to the Iraqi Interim Government, there were just over 200 reconstruction projects started in Iraq. Today 2,827 projects have started - valued at about $6.6B. Currently 1,099 projects are ongoing at a program value of about $ 4.6B, and 1,728 projects are completed - valued at about $2B. |
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WAR ON TERROR, AIR SUPPORT ROUNDUP, 09-05-2005
| IRAQ: Coalition aircraft flew 37 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Sept. 5 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Coalition aircraft also supported Iraqi and Coalition ground forces operations to create a secure environment for ongoing Transitional National Assembly meetings. Sorties included a U.S. Air Force Predator that performed an air strike in the vicinity of Al Qaim. The Predator expended a Hellfire missile with good effects against an improvised explosive device staging site used by anti-Iraqi forces. U.S. Air Force F-16s provided close air support to Coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Kirkuk. The F-16s successfully expended two GBU-38s and two GBU-12s against enemy firing positions. Other F-16s expended one GBU-38 against an anti-Iraqi forces location in the vicinity of Al Karabilah with good effects. Additional sorties included U.S. Air Force F-16s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Al Habbaniyah, Shab Al Hiri, Tall Afar, and Tikrit. Eight U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. AFGHANISTAN:, Coalition aircraft flew 24 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition and Afghan troops, the parliamentary and provincial election process, presence route patrol to include border security, and reconstruction activities. U.S. Air Force A-10s, a B-52, and a Predator and Royal Air Force GR-7s provided close air support to Coalition ground forces in contact with anti-Coalition militia in the vicinity of Oruzgan. The A-10s expended 580 30 mm cannon rounds and two rockets with successful effects. Other sorties included U.S. Air Force A-10s, a B-52, and a Predator and Royal Air Force GR-7s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Kowst, Qalat, and Shkin. Seven U.S. Air Force and French Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. ALL THEATRES: U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. Nearly 180 airlift sorties were flown, moving about 365 short tons of cargo and nearly 3,740 passengers. This included approximately 8,000 pounds of troop re-supply airdropped in Southeastern Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from the United Kingdom and Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Korea, flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On Sept. 4, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Singapore Air Force, and French Air Force tankers flew 32 sorties and offloaded more than 1.7 million pounds of fuel. |
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IRAQI COURTHOUSE REBUILT BY ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
| Al Qurnah, Iraq – The addition of new generators, construction of restroom facilities, woodworking, and installation of tile floors, inclusion of air conditioners, and significant roof work, in addition to an the addition of an exterior building in which security force personnel could reside – all were features incorporated in the Al Qurnah House of Justice renovations recently completed. At the ribbon cutting ceremony recently, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Gulf Region South (GRD) Basrah Resident Engineer Robert Vanoer said, “Our Iraqi engineers, contractor and work crew have done an exemplary job on this project which was made all the more difficult in that the facility was never closed for business and work had to all be completed with a minimum of disruption to these individuals.” Participating in the event – along with one an Iraqi judge who cut the ceremonial ribbon – were Tom Eidson, GRS Basrah Area Engineer, and Leah Bott, GRS Construction Representative. Prior to this project, the courthouse was in less-than-satisfactory shape. Nearly three decades of lack of attention, maintenance, and upkeep under the former Hussein regime had taken a significant toll of the facility. “Now,” said Eidson, “area residents may again have pride in their House of Justice – particularly in that the preponderance of the renovation work was coordinated, overseen, and completed by many who may have actual need to utilize the judicial services that it provides.” This project is one of many reconstruction efforts being completed by GRS. This district has facilitated new structure construction or existing building rehabilitation on 309 of 355 schools; is presently working on 60 medical clinics with another 21 projected, and has completed three hospitals while working on nine more. The GRS district has completed six of 45 oil-related projects, 23 of 64 border forts, four of 12 courthouses or prisons, seven of 16 Iraqi military projects, 19 of 29 fire stations, and 121 of 198 police stations. Additionally, this Corps team is working on four airports, three bridges, has completed three of seven port projects and finished 3,767 miles of roads. In water projects, they have finished one of two irrigation efforts, a wastewater treatment facility, 22 of 25 water distribution projects, and 26 of 28 water treatment plants. |
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First Class Of Afghan Army Students Taught by Afghan Instructors Graduate
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan National Army’s Command and General Staff College graduated its sixth class Aug. 22 – the first class taught entirely by Afghan instructors. French officers first taught the four-month course when the staff college opened in 2004. They selected top Afghan graduates from the second class to become instructors. The French gradually transferred authority to the ANA officers and assumed the role of advisors by April 2005. The French officers will remain at the CGSC to teach new courses in artillery, engineering and logistics, and will again choose top Afghan students from those classes to become future instructors. In a year, the CGSC will have only three French instructors instead of the current eight, said French Army Lt. Col. Gaeton Sevin, chief of the CGSC French training team. The CGSC trains senior ANA staff officers to serve in command positions at kandak (battalion) or higher levels. Afghan majors through colonels complete a wide-ranging instruction program that consists of training in staff operations and procedures, topography, tactics, computer skills and English language improvement. They also attend numerous conferences and training exercises intended to strengthen their expertise in staff officer operations. “We are very proud to teach them and can see that the best of them are ready to teach on their own,” Sevin said. “Thanks to this school, we have good officers who will be good for the ANA.” Afghan National Army Col. Abdul Halim, chief of tactical doctrine at the staff college, said the French prepared him to be an instructor, particularly with computer and language lessons. “We have been taught really well. The French were beside us, and when we taught independently, if there were problems, they helped us,” he said. Expressing his gratitude to the French officers, ANA Maj. Gen. Gullbahar Salim, CGSC commander, said, “I am very thankful to the French for teaching our instructors the new tactics. They taught them very well.” Salim said students will benefit from the CGSC’s new organization and was optimistic about the future. “I am very proud of my instructors. It is better for the students to learn from Afghans instead of through interpreters.” He explained that the course will remain four months long until all ANA positions are filled. At that time, the course will be modeled after American military institutions. The culmination of the sixth class was a Command Post Exercise, said French Army Maj. Pascal Muller, CGSC artillery professor. In the CPX, three Afghan kandaks faced a fictitious enemy force in an Afghan province. The students acted as members of the different cells of the kandak command post (current operations, plans, artillery, engineers and logistics). The students reacted to incidents, reported to the division, proposed solutions and transmitted orders to subordinate units. “This exercise was a great success and all visitors were strongly impressed by the quality of the job done by the (Afghan) teachers and the students from CGSC,” Muller said. Honor graduate for the class, ANA Col. Esmatullah, praised the hands-on approach to learning practiced at the CGSC and compared it to his earlier military education. “(Previously) we would study but not apply. But here we learned how to prepare and present the operational plan to commanders.” As the graduation ceremony ended, approximately 20 graduates and instructors performed the Attan Dance (also known as the Afghan National Dance). The dance is thousands of years old and is performed by soldiers before they start a mission – in this case, serving the people of Afghanistan . |
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Thursday, September 8
AFGHANISTAN: WEAPONS, BOMBER SUPPLIES FOUND, TAKEN FOR USE BY AFGHAN ARMY
| September 7, 2005 BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces had collected a number of weapons caches and disarmed several improvised explosive devices Tuesday across the southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan. Afghan National Police, supported by a quick reaction force from Coalition forces, discovered two caches in the Kandahar bazaar. The first cache was reported to the ANP as a suspected IED. After investigating a tip from an Afghan citizen, the suspected IED turned out to be a cache. The ANP recovered the cache from a pit inside a metal shop that included 13 artillery shells, 22 hand grenades, 14 rocket-propelled grenades and 55 pounds of explosives and associated material. The second cache was found in a cart inside the same metal shop and included two 107mm rockets, three artillery shells, 14 artillery fuses and five rolls of detonation cord. Both caches were moved to the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team compound where the serviceable items will be given to the ANP for their use. The remaining items will be destroyed at a later date. Another cache was discovered by Afghan National Army and ANP, supported by the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, while they were conducting offensive operations in Qalat. The soldiers came across a tent housing two enemy and a small cache consisting of two AK-47s rounds, 10 magazines, 300 AK rounds, two hand grenades, a roll of detonation cord, a radio and a transmitter. The men were detained and taken to a Coalition forces forward operating base near Qalat for questioning. Afghan and Coalition forces collected 42 caches in August and more than 360 since arriving in March. More than 110 improvised explosive devices have been discovered since March, with more than 20 of those being turned in by Afghan citizens. In another incident Tuesday, an IED prematurely detonated in front of a Coalition forces convoy near Kandahar Airfield on Highway 1. There were no injuries or damage to equipment. In eastern Afghanistan, Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne) discovered an IED near a Coalition forces forward operating base in the Paktika Province. The IED was a land mine. Soldiers were able to destroy the IED and continue on with their mission. With the aid of AH-64 Apache helicopters providing air support, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Soldiers detained one individual in Salerno after he ran from a command detonated IED strike. The IED detonated under the front end of the trail vehicle in a Coalition forces convoy near a forward operating base. The individual is being held at a holding facility in Salerno. There were no injuries or damage to equipment. |
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SAFE HOUSE, BOMBMAKER BLOWN UP NEAR SYRIAN BORDER
| September 8, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition air forces conducted an air strike against an al Qaida terrorist safe house in the vicinity of Husaybah,Iraq near the Syrian border at approximately 1:11 a.m. Sept. 8. A known bomb-making cell leader, Abu Mohammad, was targeted in the safe-house strike. Mohammad has been linked extensively to other al Qaida terrorists and foreign fighters in Husaybah and throughout the Western Euphrates Valley. Additionally, he is known to have worked directly for Abu Islam, the al Qaida Emir of Husaybah, who was killed by a Coalition air strike last week. Intelligence sources confirm that Abu Muhammad is known to have been involved in numerous vehicle-borne explosive device and improvised explosive device attacks on Coalition forces. He is also responsible for numerous direct attacks on Iraqi security and Coalition forces. Intelligence sources place Abu Mohammed in the tribal fighting that has occurred in Husaybah, where al Qaida terrorists murdered local Iraqis who opposed Iraqi al Qaida. The type of munitions used and the time the air strike was conducted mitigated risks to civilians in the local area. |
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50 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS TAKEN, WEAPONS FOUND
| September 8, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi security forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers detained more than 50 terror suspects on the evening of Sept. 4 and in the early-morning hours of Sept. 5 in Baghdad. During more than a dozen operations, Iraqi and U.S. forces combined efforts to defeat terrorist activities and promote security and safety to allow for the continued progress toward a free and democratic Iraq. At 7:30 p.m., a Task Force Baghdad patrol stopped a suspicious vehicle in northwest Baghdad and discovered several incriminating pieces of evidence, including the last will and testament of a suicide driver. The U.S. Soldiers detained five suspects for further questioning. At 11:40 p.m., another Task Force Baghdad unit conducted a cordon-and-search operation in north Baghdad after receiving information about terrorists known for emplacing improvised explosive devices. During that operation, the U.S. Soldiers detained 27 suspects and seized automatic rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher sight. Shortly after midnight, Iraqi security forces launched 10 simultaneous raids in an area south of Abu Ghraib, netting 25 suspected terrorists. |
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Wednesday, September 7
SAFE HOUSE, WEAPONS, SCUZBALL: BLOWN TO PIECES
| September 7, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces conducted an air strike against an al-Qaida terrorist safe house in the western city of al-Jaramil Sept. 7, further disrupting terrorist sanctuaries and activities in Iraq. Abu Ali, a senior al-Qaida foreign fighter facilitator, was believed to be in the house at the time of the strike. Ali has been linked to other al-Qaida terrorists and foreign fighter facilitators in the Hit, al Qaim, Karabilah and Husaybah areas. Additionally, he had al-Qaida connections in the Mosul area, to include Abu Talha (who was captured in June) and Abu Khallad (who was killed in August). Abu Ali is also known to have al Qaida connections in Syria and Saudi Arabia where most of his foreign fighters were recruited. The foreign fighters he funneled into Iraq, and subsequently sent to various terrorist groups, were used to attack Iraqi citizens, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces. Coalition air assets, after delivering the precision-guided munitions that destroyed the safe house, observed numerous large secondary explosions, indicating a large cache of weapons that was also destroyed during the air strike. The type of munitions used and the time of the air strike were selected to decrease the risk to civilians in the local area. |
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JOINT ACTION RESCUES AMERICAN/IRAQI HOSTAGES
| September 7, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- At approximately 11:20 a.m. Sept. 7, Coalition Forces rescued American Roy Hallums and an Iraqi citizen from captivity in an isolated farm house located 15 miles south of Baghdad. The identity of the other man is being withheld pending notification of his family by the Iraqi government. Hallums is in good condition and is receiving medical care. Hallums had been held since being kidnapped at gunpoint from the offices of his employer in the Monsour district of Baghdad on November 1, 2004. Information provided by an Iraqi detainee in Coalition custody lead to the breakthrough. Coalition Forces immediately planned and executed a raid on the farm house to capitalize on the information before Hallums could be moved to another location. Mr. Hallums provided this statement following his rescue: “I want to thank all of those who were involved in my rescue – to those who continuously tracked my captors and location, and to those who physically brought me freedom today. To all of you, I will be forever grateful. Both of us are in good health and look forward to returning to our respective families. Thank you to all who kept me and my family in their thoughts and prayers.” |
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IRAQ/U.S. GRUNTS STOP CAR BOMB, FIND BOMBMAKING SUPPLIES, AND HOLD 3 SUSPECTS
| September 7, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – An Iraqi-U.S. Army cordon-and-search operation in west Baghdad led to the discovery of a vehicle-carried improvised explosive device in the early-morning hours of Sept. 6. The operation, designed to capture anti-Iraqi forces cell leaders, members and financiers, also turned up three terror suspects who were held for questioning. Soon after the cordon and search began at 3 a.m., a local national approached Task Force Baghdad Soldiers establishing an outer cordon and gave them a tip about a known terrorist in the neighborhood. The informant led the U.S. Soldiers to the suspect’s house where they detained him and seized anti-Iraqi propaganda. As the Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers continued to search an estimated 300 houses in the area, another Task Force Baghdad unit reported finding possible bomb-making materials at one location. Two hours later, an Iraqi Army unit came across a vehicle with artillery rounds and explosives in it. The engine was still running and two individuals were found hiding in the bushes nearby. They were detained for further questioning. A U.S. explosives ordnance disposal team arrived at the VCIED and then detonated the explosives. The cordon-and-search operation ended around 11:30 a.m. |
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RAGGED? MAYBE, BUT HIS WEAPON IS CLEAN AND HIS EYESIGHT IS KEEN
This Iraqi citizen refuses to be intimidated by Zarqawi and Company. This man realizes that he, and his fellow Iraqis, have a chance they never expected. A chance to found a country where they can determine their own destiny.
 An Iraqi Security Force (ISF) soldier provides security while other ISF soldiers move in to secure a selected target house during a training exercise at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, on Aug. 29, 2005. Marines are currently training the ISF in order to independently maintain control of Fallujah. |
Tuesday, September 6
Afghan National Police Get New Weapons
| KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Afghan National Police increased their ability to train under realistic conditions recently when the ANP’s six Regionall Training Centers received shipments of new weapons for use in training the police force. The need for the new weapons at the RTCs was urgent. Mock rifles had been used to train the police officers. “We desperately needed these weapons,” said Charles Wilson, the DynCorp lead advisor and police mentor to the commander at the Herat RTC. “We have been training the police with wooden weapons without movable parts. Now we can start training them with the weapons they will be using.” Realistic training means more confident policemen when they are out fulfilling their duties, he said. The Hungarian government donated 18,800 new AMD-65s to the ANP. Similar to an AK-47, the AMD-65 has a rifle stock that folds to become more compact and fires 7.62-caliber ammunition, the same type of round used in the AK-47. Afghan National Police Col. Allah Noor Mohammadi, commander of the Herat RTC, was elated to see the initial arrival of the new weapons and immediately inspected the shipment. “These weapons will be used right away for training our policemen,” Mohammadi said. “When we receive the entire inventory we will begin distributing them to all those who are trained. We need them for the security of Afghanistan .” The weapons distribution plan is being carried out in two phases. The first phase began in early July when the first shipment of 90 AMD-65s was delivered to the Kandahar RTC. Delivery of weapons to the remaining RTCs in Herat , Gardez, Jalalabad, Konduz and Mazar-e-Sharif was completed by Aug 21. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jose Lebron, a logistics plans manager from the Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan, helped develop the weapons distribution plan for the ANP. “The initial distribution of the training weapons will include three magazines and a sling for each weapon, enough to begin proper training,” Lebron said. During the second phase, all six of the RTCs will receive additional new weapons to distribute to police officers as they complete their training and report to their assignments. “Our goal is to have all of the weapons delivered and in use prior to the September elections,” Lebron said. The ammunition for the weapons will be delivered with the larger shipments in phase two. After the second phase of distribution to the training centers is complete, the next priority is to equip the Afghan Border Police with the new weapons. “We are starting from the outside and working in,” Lebron said. “Securing the borders of Afghanistan is a very important first step.” After the border police receive new weapons, the ANP regional commands in the south and east of Afghanistan receive their issue. In addition to the Hungarian weapons donation, other members of the International Community donated more than 2 million rounds of ammunition to Afghanistan for use with the rifles. Additionally, DynCorp, the private contractor that mentors and trains the ANP at the regional training centers, transported the weapons to all of the RTCs using their own aircraft. “The weapons and ammunition donations and their delivery methods are truly a Coalition project,” Lebron said. “The concerted efforts of all of those involved will enable the ANP to be proficient in firearms and enforcing the rule of law.” |
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7 TERRORISTS CAPTURED IN BAGHDAD
| September 6, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Task Force Baghdad Soldiers detained seven suspected terrorists during an early-morning raid Sept. 2, in the western al-Rashid district of Baghdad. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division acted on intelligence as well as tips from the local population to conduct Operation Baler Resolve. “The success of the mission in Saydiyah centers on the involvement of the local populace,” said Capt. Anthony Gibson, commander of Company D, 3rd Bn., 7th Inf. After searching five objectives, the Soldiers also found weapons, $600,000 in Iraqi dinar, and fake Iraqi Police uniforms. One terrorist was wounded during a small-arms fire exchange and treated by 3-7 Infantry medics. |
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SOLDIERS FIND, BLOW UP BOMB MAKER'S STASH
| September 6, 2005 FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq -- Soldiers of the 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 155th Brigade Combat Team, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) discovered an improvised explosive device making cache north of Forward Operating Base Kalsu Sept. 4. Items seized and subsequently destroyed included 122 mm artillery round, 82 mm mortar rounds and spools of electrical wire. The 155th BCT is a U.S. Army unit assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. |
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11 TERRORISTS TAKEN IN NORTHERN IRAQ, 3 KILLED
| September 6, 2005 Mosul, Iraq –Task Force Freedom detained 11 terrorists Sept. 5 in a number of operations in northern Iraq. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a raid in northeastern Mosul. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment detained six individuals suspected of terrorist activity during another raid in western Mosul. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment detained two individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a cordon and search in southeastern Mosul Monday. Suspects are in custody with no MNF injuries reported. In Tal Afar Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment killed three terrorists after receiving small arms fire. |
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TERRORIST BUTT BOY NABBED IN FALLUJAH
| September 6, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Multi-National Forces raided a suspected terrorist location in the Hillah area Aug. 29 and captured Ayad Adnan Away Samir, a key terrorist facilitator in the Fallujah area. Ayad Adnan, (aka Abu Ahmad), admitted to coalition forces of being a terrorist and the senior aide to the terrorist leader Sheikh Abdullah Al Janabi, the Emir of the Shura Council in Fallujah. Al Janabi is a known foreign fighter facilitator. Abu Ahmad’s duties for Sheikh Abdullah included the facilitation of meetings between high level terrorists and driving Sheikh Abdullah to numerous meetings in and around the Fallujah area. Additionally, he admitted ties with other senior terrorists in Fallujah, Ramadi and Baghdad and to fighting against coalition forces in the battle of Fallujah last November. |
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11 TERRORISTS KILLED, 2 WOUNDED, 6 CAPTURED IN MORTAR ATTACK RESPONSE
| September 6, 2005, TIKRIT, Iraq – Task Force Liberty Soldiers detained six terrorists suspected of carrying out a mortar attack against a Coalition base near Balad at about 5 a.m. Sept. 5. Eleven terrorists were killed when the task force responded to the attack. Four of those eventually detained were wounded in the counter attack. Troops located two groups of attackers with a Coalition unmanned aerial vehicle and engaged them. The UAV was also used to track the wounded, who were observed being loaded into two vehicles at one of the mortar sites. The vehicles took the wounded to a hospital in Khalis in Diyala Province. Following coordination with the provincial Joint Coordination Center and Iraqi Security forces, a Task Force Liberty combat patrol investigated and detained the four. |
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ABU GHRAIB BOMB MAKERS CAPTURED
| September 6, 2005, BAGHDAD, Iraq – On Sept. 2 Multi-National Forces captured members of a terror cell that made and emplaced improvised explosive devices in and around the Abu Ghraib area. Acting on multiple intelligence sources, Multi-National Forces raided a suspected terrorist location near the town of Al Amiriyah and captured Haytham Nafi’ ‘Ali Husayn, (aka Haytham Attah) an improvised explosive device cell leader. Haytham Attah purchased explosives and ordnance used to make IEDs for attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces. He also emplaced IEDs on the main roads in and around the Abu Ghraib area. Wathiq Hamid ‘Abdallah Muhammad was also captured, who worked for Haytham Attah and assisted in the security and transport of IED materials between IED cells in the Abu Ghraib area and on attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces. Haytham Attah and Wathiq are detained and await trial before the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. |
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Sunday, September 4
Lt. earns Silver Star for actions in Ba’qubah battle
| After leading his platoon through a fierce onslaught, enemy fire pounding them from every direction, 1st Lt. Neil Prakash went back in for more. His actions on that June day brought Maj. Gen. John Batiste, to Forward Operating Base Scunion Jan. 14 to award the 24-year-old tank platoon leader one of the military’s highest honors -- the Silver Star Medal. Batiste said. “He sets a very high standard for every one of us. I guarantee veterans of the past are standing very tall right now.” After spending all night June 23 and the next morning patrolling and setting up observation posts, Prakash's 1st platoon pulled in to Forward Operating Base Scunion at about 10 a.m. when he learned the city was under siege. Parakash’s 1st platoon was in the lead. Their mission: to seize and secure a set of twin bridges and set up a blocking position to prevent the enemy from reinforcing. During the action, Prakash spent several hours under fire as the lead vehicle, taking the brunt of the attack. When enemy fire disabled his tank’s turret, he maneuvered the entire vehicle in order to engage the enemy with the main weapon system and .50-caliber machinegun. “Looking out of the hatch, I’m just spraying guys and they’re just falling,” said Prakash. “They would just drop – no blood, no nothing. We just keep rolling, getting shot at from everywhere.” By battle’s end, Prakash's platoon was responsible for 25 confirmed destroyed enemy and an estimated 50 to 60 additional destroyed enemy fighters. Prakash was personally credited with the destruction of eight enemy strong-points, one enemy resupply vehicle, and multiple dismounted enemy fighters. “He led the way,” said Alpha Company Commander Capt. Paul Fowler. “He’s a pleasure to command, because he doesn’t require very much direction. He uses his own judgment and he’s simply an outstanding young lieutenant.” |
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