Saturday, October 8
IRON FIST CONCLUDES, 50 SCUZBALLS DEAD, CITIZENS FREE AGAIN
| October 7, 2005 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – Approximately 1,000 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors assigned to Regimental Combat Team –2 concluded Operation Kabda Bil Hadid, or Iron Fist in English in the Al Qa’im region of Western Al Anbar late on Oct. 6. The goal of the six day operation was to root out Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists and to disrupt insurgent support systems in and around the city of Sa’dah, located 12 miles east of the Syrian border on the southern bank of the Euphrates River. Coalition Forces have established new outposts in Sa’dah in order to maintain a presence in the area. These positions will sustain ongoing operations to defeat the flow of Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists from Syria along the Euphrates River Valley. The operation resulted in more than 50 Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists killed. The Marines have gone to great lengths to protect the civilian population from these terrorists and minimize civilian casualties and collateral damage. The offensive was part of the larger Operation Sayaid (Hunter), aimed at denying Al Qaeda in Iraq the ability to operate in the Euphrates River Valley and at preventing the terrorists from continuing their campaign of murder and intimidation against the local population. Weblog LINK |
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IRAQI COPS, U.S. GRUNTS NAB 34 SCUZBALLS
| October 7, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Task Force Baghdad Soldiers teamed up with Iraqi Special Police Commandos to conduct a series of raids in south Baghdad Oct. 6 and netted 34 terror suspects. The hunt for terrorists in Saydiyah kicked off just after midnight as Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team focused efforts on 16 targets and detained 10 men. Nine of the detainees were suspected of having affiliations with the al-Qaeda terrorist group. Elements from 1st Battalion, 1st Commando Brigade also conducted a raid in another western al-Rasheed neighborhood and detained 24 suspected terrorists. Weblog LINK |
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Friday, October 7
2 SCUZBALLS KILLED, BOMBMAKER NABBED
| October 7, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Multi-National forces killed two foreign fighters and captured two others during a raid in Karabilah Sept. 6. Multi-National forces acted on intelligence tips from multiple sources that foreign fighters were operating in Karabilah at a specific location. During the raid, the forces killed two foreign fighters and captured Fahed Mohammad Saleh Aba al-Khail (aka Abu Faris), and Hassan Salim Salah ‘Abdallah Al-Sha’ari (aka Abu Habib al-Libi). Both are now in custody of Coalition forces. Abu Faris is an admitted foreign fighter who entered Iraq illegally from Saudi Arabia with the intent to fight Coalition forces. He departed Saudi Arabia with a forged passport and crossed into Iraq with the assistance of a smuggler. The foreign fighters with whom he associated trained him on the use of various weapons and pressured him to become a suicide bomber. Abu Habib al-Libi also admitted to being a foreign fighter. Al-Libi claims to be the Improvised Explosive Device “Emir” of Karabilah, responsible for conducting numerous bombings against Coalition and Iraqi forces. He came to Iraq from Libya, crossing the border through Syria. Weblog LINK |
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OUT OF UNIFORM COPS APPROACH FIREFIGHT , GET SHOT, KILLED
| October 7, 2005 BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – U.S. and Coalition forces are investigating an incident where four Afghan National Policemen were killed and another was wounded near Gereshk in the Helmand Province yesterday. Coalition forces were in contact with enemy forces when an unknown vehicle approached the area with five armed men inside. The men in the vehicle were ANP, however they were not in uniform. Coalition soldiers shot at their vehicle killing four of the individuals and wounding the other. Weblog LINK |
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DILIGENCE, DISGUSTED CITIZEN TIPS NET 34 PILES OF GUNS N' AMMO IN SEPTEMBER
| October 6, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq — During combat operations to crack down on terrorist cells and their support networks in and around Baghdad, Iraqi and Coalition Forces seized 31 weapons caches in September, making it the largest monthly haul since 54 caches were seized in May. On one occasion, Iraqi Police and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers patrolling together in the Mansour district of central Baghdad came under machine gun fire from terrorists hiding in a building Sept. 21. Iraqi Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, also working in the area, went to assist the combined patrol while U.S. attack helicopters flew in to provide air support. When the firing stopped, the Iraqi Soldiers stormed inside the building and found a weapons cache containing rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms ammunition. The Soldiers found 35 mortar rounds and rockets, one mortar tube, 27 RPGs, three roadside bombs, and five cell phones. Five terrorists were killed by Iraqi Forces during the firefight. Soldiers often discovered the caches after local residents, weary of terrorist violence in their neighborhoods, told them where weapons were hidden. An Iraqi citizen’s tip helped Iraqi Army Soldiers seize two terror suspects and an Anti-Iraqi Forces weapons cache in an operation Sept. 24. Iraqi Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division planned and conducted the entire mission. The weapons cache the Iraqi Soldiers discovered consisted of 84 mortar rounds and one mortar tube, five rockets, six anti-rockets, three RPG launchers with 18 RPGs, and a bag of small-arms ammunition. A few days earlier on Sept. 17, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, 48th Brigade Combat Team patrolling in the Radwiniyah area of west Baghdad found one of the larger caches of the month after local citizens told them about a field of buried weapons. The unit uncovered the cache, then expanded the search and found two more stockpiles of weapons and ammunition in the same area. The two caches contained 63 RPG rounds, 23 RPG motors, 904 RPG fuses and primers, 33 rockets, 35 mortar rounds, two mortar firing tubes, 80 mortar fuses and five crates of TNT. One terror suspect was captured at the site and taken into custody for questioning. Just over a week later, on Sept. 25, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers, acting on another tip from an Iraqi citizen, seized an even larger weapons cache hidden in west Baghdad. Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, discovered 85 mortar rounds, 14 rockets, two artillery rounds and three mortar tubes at the cache site. The cache also contained eight RPG launchers with 144 RPGs and 30 RPG chargers, three anti-tank weapons, 20 hand grenades, bomb-making materials, two machine guns, two assault rifles and 75 pounds of ammunition. On another occasion, Coalition Forces patrolling on foot in the Radwiniyah district Sept. 28 were approached by an Iraqi citizen who told the unit about another large weapons cache. When the Soldiers investigated, they found 175 sticks of dynamite, 109 grenades, 149 rockets, mortar and artillery rounds, two rocket launchers, 46 anti-personnel mines and 20 pounds of TNT. NOTE: The text above is compiled from information contained in several press releases already released throughout September 2005. Weblog LINK |
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4 BAGHDAD DISTRICTS TURNED OVER TO IRAQI ARMY
| October 6, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Iraqi Army reached another historic milestone when the 6th Iraqi Army Division took over authority of the Kharkh, Rusafa, Thawra and Adhamiyah districts of Baghdad from Task Force Baghdad during a ceremony at the Muthana Airfield Oct. 3. Iraqi Army Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Mohammad Khalaf al-Shumali, 6th Iraqi Army Division commander, raised the division’s flag, signifying the assumption of authority and another step toward taking control of their own country. During his speech, Mahmoud expressed confidence in his division and its ability to secure the Baghdad area. “It is a great opportunity and a great event that we have been given the honor to receive responsibility of our units in these areas,” he said. “Our beloved Baghdad and its people should feel safe with our units responsible for their safety. We pledge to do our best to serve our people and to reconstruct our country.” Maj. Gen. William G. Webster, Task Force Baghdad and 3rd Infantry Division commander, also participated in the ceremony and said he feels the transfer marks a significant chapter in the future of Iraq. “Today is a great day for the Iraqi Army as the Baghdad Division assumes control of two of its brigades and begins to transition the security of Baghdad,” Webster said. “It signals that eventually the Iraqi Army will once again control the security of their country.” The assumption of authority observance included drill and ceremony demonstrations by the 6th Iraqi Army Division., where Iraqi Army Soldiers marched past their commander on the reviewing stand. “You can see in their eyes the pride that swells as these men take security of their own city,” Webster said. “We have been working hard to this day so the Iraqi Army can take control of this part of Baghdad. It’s a great step and will only strengthen the relationship between us.” Weblog LINK |
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Thursday, October 6
BAGHDAD: GRUNTS CONTINUE ROUNDING UP SCUZBALLS, TAKING GUNS N' AMMO
| October 6, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi security forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers continued numerous offensive operations against terrorists in east Baghdad Oct. 2. Around 4 a.m., a dismounted Coalition Forces patrol in Sadr City discovered a parked vehicle with a heavy machine gun mount in a garage. The patrol conducted a hasty search of the house and found numerous illegal weapons and material to make improvised explosive devices, including 50 blasting caps and an igniter, two hand grenades, sights for rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine gun rounds, a bullet-proof vest, large amounts of ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles, and both Syrian and U.S. currency. Two individuals were detained and are being held pending processing into the Iraqi judicial system. “This was a significant find for us,” said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Phinney, a leader with the unit that made the arrests. “It really boosts morale when we make a positive impact on security in east Baghdad." “Aggressive dismounted patrolling is the key – it really pays off,” Phinney added. “If we had been conducting a mounted patrol, we might not have seen the truck. The more we patrol, the more information we gather and the more effective we become.” Phinney said working closely with the local Iraqi population is vital to his unit’s success in combat and security operations. “One of the keys to finding the terrorists is to get on the ground and listen to what the people tell us,” he said. “We then develop the situation and conduct refined searches based on that information.” In other combat operations around east Baghdad, an Iraqi Police patrol discovered a suspicious vehicle parked along a road around 6:30 a.m. The IPs, believing the sedan might be a car bomb, did not approach the car but were able to observe from a safe distance that there was a dead body inside. The IPs were concerned that a terrorist had placed the body in the car as bait, which is sometimes used as a terrorist ploy to bring potential targets closer to a vehicle before detonation in order to maximize casualties. In this case, the IPs believed, the bait was being used to kill first responders who would approach the body in the car. The police secured the area to prevent potential injury to pedestrians and commuters. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the scene. As the vehicle was being examined by remote methods, explosives inside the car detonated. There were no casualties. “It sickens me that the terrorists are willing to murder someone and use them as bait. We will probably never know who the victim in the car was but I can only imagine that he had a family and loved ones, and he was killed for absolutely no reason,” said Col. Joseph DiSalvo, 2nd Brigade Combat Team commander. “I applaud the vigilance of the Iraqi Police who found this car bomb before it could be detonated.” Later, around 9 a.m., Coalition Forces working with Iraqi Police responded to a report of rockets being fired in the vicinity of the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior building. The IPs and Iraqi Army forces descended upon the suspected origin of the rocket fire. Within an hour, the Iraqi forces discovered a suspicious ice cream truck parked near a soccer stadium. A search revealed that the vehicle was disguised as an ice cream truck and used for launching rockets. Further investigation revealed the vehicle had recently launched four rockets; one of which hit a local civilian’s vehicle, causing the death of one Iraqi citizen and wounding another. The other three rockets caused no casualties and little damage. “These improvised weapons systems are of dubious military value. It is almost impossible to know where the rockets will land. When the terrorists try to employ these weapons, you can expect the collateral damage will be great,” said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Bennett, a fire support expert in 2nd BCT. Weblog LINK |
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NOT THIS TIME, SCUZBALL: CAR BOMB NEAR A SCHOOL DEFUSED, PILES OF GUNS N' AMMO FOUND
| October 6, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. Soldiers, responding to an Iraqi citizen’s tip, foiled a potential terrorist car bomb attack near an elementary school in west Baghdad Oct. 3. At 2 p.m., an Iraqi citizen reported a possible car bomb 20 yards from an elementary school. The man said the car had been parked there with its hood up since 11:30 a.m. He added that the driver then exited the vehicle and was picked up by another car, which then drove away. An explosives ordnance disposal team investigated and found a mortar round, four tank rounds, a propane tank and a radio controlled detonation device wired to the car’s antenna. The Soldiers safely detonated the bomb. In other combat operations Oct. 3, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers captured four suspected roadside bombers and found four weapons caches in different areas of the city. U.S. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, stopped a suspicious-looking vehicle while manning a traffic control point at around 3 p.m. in south Baghdad. When the unit searched the vehicle, they found TNT and blue and white wires often used to detonate improvised explosive devices in the trunk. The four occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody for questioning. Coalition Forces found the four weapons caches hidden in various areas of Baghdad. The caches contained 29 mortar rounds and a mortar tripod, nine rockets, a bag of TNT with wires running from it, one rocket propelled grenade launcher and four RPGs, four machine guns, four AK-47 rifles and nearly 3,000 rounds of ammunition. The Soldiers also found anti-Iraqi forces propaganda and paraphernalia at one of the cache sites. Weblog LINK |
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HAHA SCUZBALLS, YOU CAN'T GET AWAY UNLESS YOU SWIM.
| October 6, 2005 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – Approximately 350 Iraqi Security Force Soldiers and Coalition Marines, Soldiers and Sailors from Regimental Combat Team – 2 continued Operation Bawwabatu Annaher, River Gate in English, in the cities of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana. Iraqi Soldiers provide security for Haditha General Hospital’s patients and personnel. The hospital is the largest medical facility in Western Al Anbar, and was targeted last spring by a suicide car bomber. Operation River Gate began Oct. 4 with predawn air strikes on the Dulab, Haditha and Barwana bridges which span the Euphrates River. The strikes were carefully executed to disable the bridges and limit the terrorists’ ability to flee the cities. Early this morning, Marines detained a man in Barwana for possession of a mortar system. At noon in Haditha, Iraqi Security Forces and Marines discovered a roadside bomb which consisted of two 155 mm artillery rounds. The bomb was destroyed in place without incident. This is the third such device found since yesterday morning. Since the operation commenced Oct. 4, six Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists have been killed in the fighting. Approximately 110 men suspected of terrorist activity have been detained. Essential services such as electricity, water and access to medical care have not been disrupted by the ongoing operation. More information will be released as it becomes available. Weblog LINK |
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Wednesday, October 5
AGING SCUZBALL DIES OF HEART ATTACK, GETS ONLY 1 1/2 VIRGINS
| October 5, 2005 CAMP BUCCA, Iraq -- A 43-year-old male security detainee died this morning at Camp Bucca. Detainees from his compound carried the unconscious detainee to the compound gate and notified the guards. The detainee was not breathing and the medical staff immediately began CPR. The medical staff transported the detainee to the field hospital located on Camp Bucca where he died after all life-saving efforts failed to resuscitate him. The cause of death appears to have been a heart attack. The remains will be transferred to the family in accordance with standard procedure. Weblog LINK |
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GRUNTS NAB 23 SCUZBALLS, GUNS N' AMMO, HIDEYHOLES, BOMBS
| October 5, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Coalition Forces captured 20 terror suspects during seven pre-dawn raids against terrorist safe-houses in Baghdad Oct. 4 in order to break up terror networks operating in and around the city. All seven raids were conducted between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. in west, northwest, south and southeast Baghdad. Task Force Baghdad Soldiers also caught three men red-handed before they could carry out a terrorist attack in the Thawra district of northeast Baghdad. At 1:30 a.m., the Soldiers halted a vehicle with no license plate. The three individuals in the car each had an AK-47 assault rifle and none had any identification. The three terror suspects were detained and turned over to the Iraqi Police. In other combat operations, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers on patrol seized four separate weapons caches, disrupting terrorist support networks. The caches contained 571 mortar rounds, 19 artillery rounds, 15 rockets, nine rocket launchers, 110 rocket-propelled grenades, one RPG launcher, 31 grenades, 206 artillery fuses, a large-caliber machine gun with ammunition, and two AK-47 assault rifles. The Soldiers also found two roadside bombs and anti-Coalition propaganda. Weblog LINK |
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Tuesday, October 4
IRAQI COPS GET NEW CARS, EQUIPMENT
| October 4, 2005 CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Multi-National Division Central South handed over 120 police cars to Iraqi Police in the Babil and Diwaniyah provinces Oct. 4. Iraqi policemen were also equipped with new weapons, ammunition and uniforms. The new four-wheel drive cars are designed for any kind of police missions. The cars are equipped with communications devices, air conditioning and special lights for night searches. The cars and police equipment are sponsored by Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq (MNSTC-I). Its mission is to assist the Iraqi Government in the development, organization, training, equipping, and sustainment of Iraqi Security Forces capable of defeating terrorism and providing a stable environment. Iraqi Police in Babil and Quadisiyah provinces also received new equipment including 1700 personal guns, 35,000 rounds of ammunition and180 uniforms. Police in the Wasit province received 1000 personal guns and about 20,000 rounds of ammunition. Multi-National Division Central South organized the transfer of the cars and equipment. From the beginning of the mission in Iraq MNDCS has prepared about 20,000 officers for various Iraqi Police formations. Weblog LINK |
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AFGHANI, PAKISTANI, COALITION LEADERS MEET
| October 4, 2005 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Tripartite Commission, composed of senior military and diplomatic representatives from Afghanistan , Pakistan and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, held its thirteenth meeting in Rawalpindi, Pakistan today. Delegates included Lt. Gen. Sher M. Karimi, Chief of Operations of the Afghan National Army, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Yousef, Director General of Military Operations of the Pakistan Army, and Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry, Commander, Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan. The session began with each delegation delivering a briefing summarizing its plan to provide security for the recent successful Afghan elections, and identifying those aspects of cooperation among the parties that worked best and those that could be improved. All parties agreed that Pakistan’s deployment of additional forces to the border region and the coordination of Pakistani, Afghan and Coalition operations were a significant factor in preventing insurgents from disrupting the elections. All parties further agreed that continued cooperation and coordination to enhance security was essential to long-term success against Al Qaeda and terrorist movements. The delegates then moved to an examination of the future of the Tripartite Commission and ways to expand their cooperative security efforts. The Coalition briefed, among other topics, its plan to expand intelligence/information-sharing and cooperation in countering improvised explosive devices among the parties and its offer to plan and fund bilateral Afghan-Pakistani professional education courses at regional studies centers in Germany and the United States. This plenary session also marked the second time that NATO’s International Security Assistance Force observers attended the session as guests of the Tripartite Commission. All parties welcomed the observers and look forward to expanding the NATO-ISAF role in the future. The Tripartite Commission will meet again in December 2005 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Afghan Chief of the General Staff Gen. Bismullah Khan will host Lt. Gen. Eikenberry and Pakistani Vice Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ahsan Saleem Hyat at this meeting, marking the second time that Afghan and Pakistan will be represented by four star generals. Weblog LINK |
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SAILOR'S BODY RECOVERED
| October 4, 2005 ARABIAN GULF – Coalition air and surface forces concluded Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Arabian Gulf Oct. 4, at approximately 3:25 p.m., local, after locating the body of a Sailor who fell out of a U.S. Navy MH-53 helicopter during a regularly scheduled training mission in the Central Arabian Gulf, off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Weblog LINK |
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SAILOR FALLS FROM COPTER, SEARCH & RESCUE UNDERWAY
| October 4, 2005 ARABIAN GULF – Coalition air and surface forces are conducting Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Arabian Gulf after a Sailor fell out of an MH-53 helicopter today, Oct. 4, at approximately noon, during a regularly scheduled training mission in the Central Arabian Gulf, off the coast of Saudi Arabia. SAR operations have been continuous and are ongoing. Weblog LINK |
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HEY SCUZBALL! WE'RE COMIN' AT YA!
| October 4, 2005 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – The 2nd Marine Division launched Operation Bawwabatu Annaher, or River Gate in English, in the cities of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana Oct. 4. Approximately 2,500 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors from Regimental Combat Team – 2 and Iraqi Security force soldiers are participating in the operation, making it the largest operation in the al Anbar province this year. The operation’s goal is to deny al Qaeda in Iraq the ability to operate in the three Euphrates River Valley cities and to free the local citizens from the terrorists’ campaign of murder and intimidation of innocent women, children and men. Haditha is an important crossroads for al Qaeda in Iraq’s smuggling activities from the Syrian border. Once in Haditha, smugglers can go north to Mosul or continue on to ar Ramadi, Fallujah or Baghdad. The city is home to approximately 75,000 Iraqis, a vital hydro-electric power plant, and 28 schools. Coalition and Iraqi forces located in western al Anbar province have seen a recent increase of al Qaeda in Iraq violence in Haditha. Last Spring, terrorists attacked Haditha General Hospital, the largest in western al Anbar, with a suicide car bomb, destroying more than half of the building with the explosion and ensuing fire. Terrorists also established fortified firing positions inside the hospital and used patients and staff as human shields as they attacked Marines from the hospital and later retreated from the Marine counterattack. More information will be released as it becomes available. Weblog LINK |
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GRUNTS NAB 78 SCUZBALLS, GRAB SPY TOOLS, LOTS OF GUNS N' AMMO
| October 4, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi and Coalition forces captured 78 suspected terrorists and seized eight weapons caches while carrying out a combined total of 12 raids and 66 search operations throughout the city from Sept. 28 through Sept. 30. Iraqi Security forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers also conducted nearly 1,600 combat patrols, and continued to receive tips from Iraqi citizens fed up with terrorist violence in their neighborhoods. During one dismounted patrol on Sept. 28, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers were approached by an Iraqi citizen who told the unit about a large weapons cache in the Radwiniyah district of west Baghdad. When the Soldiers investigated, they found 175 sticks of dynamite, 109 grenades, 149 rockets, mortar and artillery rounds, two rocket launchers, 46 anti-personnel mines and 20 pounds of TNT. The cache also contained 28 rocket-propelled grenades, 23 fragmentation grenades, one missile, one machine gun with 1,000 rounds of ammunition and bomb making materials. Task Force Baghdad Soldiers also seized nine missiles, seven rocket launchers, 20 rockets, 89 mortar rounds, three rocket propelled grenade launchers and over 300 rocket propelled grenades from other weapons caches found in the city. Additionally, the Soldiers uncovered 119 hand grenades and bomb making materials to include plastic explosives, detonation cord, remote controlled detonation devices, a bomb building instruction book, machine guns, rifles, pistols and ammunition. Iraqi and Coalition forces also continued to establish and man traffic control points throughout the city to provide security. After setting up an impromptu control point in northeast Baghdad, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers stopped four suspicious vehicles around 11:55 p.m. Sept. 29. Upon searching the car, the Soldiers discovered terrorist propaganda, 10 Iraqi Police badges and six IP-issue Glock pistols. Soldiers captured 12 terror suspects in the four cars and detained them for further questioning. About 10 minutes later, another vehicle was stopped at the same check point and the four occupants in the car had Iraqi government badges, three AK-47 assault rifles and one Glock pistol in their possession. Iraqi Police took the four suspects into custody for questioning. At 12:30 a.m. Sept. 30, a Task Force Baghdad patrol saw two suspected terrorists placing a roadside bomb on a highway south of Baghdad. The Soldiers fired on the suspects and they ran away. The area was cordoned off to keep people away, and an explosive ordnance disposal team safely destroyed the bomb. Weblog LINK |
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Monday, October 3
AMBUSH LEADS TO SCUZBALL CAMP, GUNS N' AMMO MUCHO
| October 3, 2005 TIKRIT, Iraq— Task Force Liberty and Iraqi Army Soldiers uncovered information leading to a possible anti-Iraqi force encampment during the discovery of a large weapons cache near Ghalibiyah at 12:30 a.m. Oct 3. The cache was discovered after Iraqi Army Soldiers were attacked while on patrol, returned fire and pursued the attackers to two large farmhouses in the area. Iraqi soldiers requested Task Force Liberty assistance and then conducted a joint raid. A search of the properties yielded two vehicles prepared as improvised explosive devices (propane tanks with TNT), one suicide bomber vest, 19 57mm rockets, 18 SPG 9 (anti-tank) rockets, 16 rocket propelled grenades, two launchers, 10 anti- tank mines, 20 mortars, 25 mortar fuses, three machine guns, two AK-47 rifles, and 4 hand grenades. Also found was an Iraqi Army uniform, two Al-Qaeda flags, an Al-Qaeda flier, an Al-Qaeda Jihad book and miscellaneous medical equipment. Task Force Liberty explosive ordnance disposal personnel conducted a controlled blast to destroy the munitions. Although the attackers escaped, they were later apprehended at the Khalis Hospital while one was receiving medical treatment for wounds received during the firefight. Weblog LINK |
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MARINES: AL QAEDA CLAIMS ARE BS, WE'RE ALL HERE
| October 3, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Al Qaeda in Iraq claims that two U.S. Marines were kidnapped in western Iraq Oct. 2 are patently false. All Marines and service members attached to Multi-National Force-West are accounted for. This latest claim by the terror organization continues a pattern of deceit. This hoax demonstrates the organization’s willingness and desire to use the media to propagate their lies. Weblog LINK |
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14 SCUZBALLS TAKEN, 6 BIG PILES OF GUNS N' AMMO FOUND
| October 3, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Coalition forces detained 14 suspected terrorists, found six weapons caches, and seized terrorist propaganda materials during a series of combat operations conducted throughout the capitol city Oct. 1. The largest operations of the day were a pair of late-night raids resulting in the capture of 10 terror suspects in south Baghdad. One of the raids, which netted four suspects, was carried out after an Iraqi citizen provided a tip to Coalition forces about terrorist activity taking place in his neighborhood. Just before dawn, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers acting on another tip from an Iraqi citizen, conducted a cordon-and-search operation in north Baghdad. In one hour, the Soldiers searched four safe houses in the area and captured two terror suspects. Later, around 8 a.m., a Task Force Baghdad patrol found a weapons cache while working in southwest Baghdad. The cache contained 22 mortar rounds wired with detonation cord, three artillery rounds, two hand grenades and some assault rifle ammunition. Task Force Baghdad Soldiers made their largest find of the day just before 10 a.m. After discovering 25 mortar rounds hidden in west Baghdad, the patrol fanned out to search the entire area. A half hour later, the Soldiers found a second cache 150 yards away, then a third cache between the other two. The Soldiers continued to look and ended up finding two more caches. The five caches consisted of 64 mortar rounds, two mortar tubes, three rockets, three bombs, 20 rocket-propelled grenades, 12 hand grenades and numerous handguns. In other combat operations, U.S. Soldiers detained a suspected bomb maker at a house in north Baghdad at 10:30 p.m. Task Force Baghdad Soldiers also caught another terror suspect and seized terrorist propaganda while searching three more houses in north Baghdad. Weblog LINK |
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MARINES: AL QAEDA CLAIMS ARE PROBABLY BS, WE'RE DOING A HEADCOUNT
| October 3, 2005 CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – There are no indications that Al Qaeda claims of having kidnapped two Marines in western Iraq are true. Multi-National Force – West is conducting checks to verify all Marines are accounted for. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Weblog LINK |
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GRUNTS FIND, BLOW UP MUCHO GRANDE GUNS N' AMMO, 2 SCUZBALLS NABBED
| October 3, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi Army and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers found five weapons caches hidden in north Baghdad Sept. 30. The largest discovery was made by combat engineers from the 70th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division at a house in north Baghdad. The unit captured two suspected terrorists at the house around 8 a.m. and began a search of the area. In just over two hours, the Soldiers discovered three weapons caches containing nine missiles, seven rocket launchers, 20 rockets, 69 mortar rounds, more than 300 rocket-propelled grenades, and 119 hand grenades. They also found a wide assortment of artillery rounds and bomb-making materials, including 53 detonators, 42 time fuses, three machine guns, several types of rifles, scopes, pistols and ammunition. At 6 p.m., Iraqi Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) found a fourth weapons cache while patrolling in north Baghdad. The cache consisted of 20 mortar rounds and bomb-making materials, including five pounds of plastic explosives, one box of rocket fuses, cut lengths of wire, two remote-controlled detonation devices and an instruction book on how to build bombs. Minutes later in a different area of north Baghdad, a Task Force Baghdad patrol found the fifth cache. The cache contained five bombs consisting of mortar rounds already wired with detonation cord, three RPG launchers with 12 RPGs, plastic explosives, three AK-47 assault rifles, a pistol and ammunition. Coalition Forces also found two improvised explosive devices. One of the bombs was an anti-tank mine connected to a radio, and the other bomb was two artillery rounds attached to a telephone. In both cases, the Soldiers cordoned off the area to keep people away from the bomb site, and called in explosives teams to safely dispose of the bombs. Weblog LINK |
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IRAQI WORKERS, AT 1ST MILESTONE, GET $22M CASH PAYDAY
| October 3, 2005 CAMP ADDER, Iraq – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Southern District paid out more than $22,000,000 in cash Sept. 29 to Iraqi contractors contributing to a number of projects in nine southern provinces of the country. In order to boost the local economy and provide entrepreneur contractors with the opportunities to compete, the Corps arranged to pay contractors in cash after they completed a certain portion of the contract. “This payment system is a bit out of the ordinary, but it gets the money into the hands of small contractors who otherwise couldn’t compete,” said Nick Ash, Gulf Region Southern District Resource Manager. “These cash payments helped prevent work stoppages and developed lasting, positive working relationships with the Iraqi people.” Small contractors hire local Iraqi workers, so the money goes back into the local economy through families that reside where the work is being done. An accountant for the district arranged for the high-volume payment after verifying the work had been completed. Roberta, “Bobbie,” West, a Tennessee native, was on hand to distribute the funds covering more than 1,000 contracts. “Bobbie is a hard worker, talented, and made the process of cash payments flow smoothly,” said Ash. “It will be tough to replace her when she goes home.” West is scheduled to return home in a few months. Projects covered by the payments included construction and renovation to schools, hospitals, roads, police stations, fire stations, water plants and electrical systems. Weblog LINK |
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IRON FIST: 8 SCUZBALLS TAKE THE DIRT NAP
| October 3, 2005 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – The first day of Operation Kabda Bil Hadid, or Iron Fist in English saw several successful engagements against al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating in and around Sadah, approximately 12 kilometers east of the Syrian border. The operation continues with a force of approximately 1,000 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors from Regimental Combat Team-2. Coalition Forces, including helicopters from 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, engaged and killed eight armed terrorists in fighting early in the day Oct. 1. During another engagement, terrorists drove two vehicles in the vicinity of a Marine position, dismounted and began to attack with small-arms fire. One of the vehicles was found to be rigged with explosives. The gun battle left four terrorists dead. The fifth surrendered to the Marines. In the late morning, Marines discovered and destroyed a roadside bomb on the outskirts of Sadah. Shortly afterwards, a M1A1 Main Battle Tank destroyed a vehicle car bomb with one round from its main gun southwest of the city. North of Sadah, U.S. Forces killed three al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists after the group attacked their checkpoint with small-arms fire. The eighth terrorist was killed when an AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter destroyed a vehicle after its driver fired on a Marine position with a rocket-propelled grenade. Another vehicle traveling with the attacker was seen to be carrying additional RPGs and was subsequently destroyed by missile fire from the Cobra. The driver and passenger escaped the blast. No Marine casualties have been reported. The goal of the operation is to root out al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating within the area and disrupting terrorist support systems in and around Sadah. The offensive is part of an overall operation called Sayaid or Hunter in English, which is intended to deny al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists the ability to operate freely in the Euphrates River Valley and to prevent the terrorists from influencing the local population through murder and intimidation. More information will be released as it becomes available. Weblog LINK |
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SCUZBALL SICKENS, DIES AT ABU GHRAIB
| October 3, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – A 60-year-old male security detainee died this morning at Forward Operating Base Abu Ghraib. The medical staff noticed that he appeared to be ill and took him to the medical facility. The medical staff determined he was hypoglycemic and provided medical care. Soon after, it was determined he was in renal failure, and surgery was then performed. The detainee went into cardiac arrest while in the intensive care unit, and died after all life-saving efforts failed to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at 4:02 a.m. by an attending physician. The remains will be transferred to the family upon completion of an autopsy, in accordance with standard procedure. Weblog LINK |
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IRON FIST: ARE YOU READY FOR SOME BUTT KICKIN'? SCUZBALLS?
| October 3, 2005 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – A force of approximately 1,000 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors from Regimental Combat Team-2 launched an operation against a known terrorist sanctuary in the western al Anbar province town of Sadah, in the al Qaim region approximately 12 km. from the Syrian border. Operation Kabda Bil Hadid, or Iron Fist in English, began in the early morning hours in order to root out al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating in the area and to disrupt terrorist support systems in and around the city. For the past several months, terrorists within Sadah have escalated their intimidation and murder campaign against the local populace and city government officials. The resulting effect was an increased ability to move freely within the area and a base for them to launch attacks against innocent civilians, Iraqi Security forces and Coalition forces. By interdicting foreign fighters flowing in from the Syrian border, the operation will also serve as a way to provide security for the upcoming referendum. As with all coalition operations, strict measures are taken to prevent civilian casualties and unnecessary collateral damage to property. More information will be released as it becomes available. Weblog LINK |
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