Monday, December 26
OPERATION MOONLIGHT ENDS
Operation was first in which Iraqi Grunts acted solo, and American forces observed.
| December 21, 2005 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq— Operation Alkamra Almaner (Moonlight) concluded Dec. 20. Moonlight was the first brigade-level operation conducted by Iraqi Army Soldiers in the al Anbar province. Five Iraqi Army companies from 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division led the operation and were supported by a company of U.S. Marines from Regimental Combat Team - 2. The operation netted a weapons cache; additionally, Operation Moonlight demonstrated the Iraqi Army Soldiers’ ability to gather intelligence, plan, execute and exercise command and control during a large-scale operation. The Iraqi Soldiers, with Marines acting as observers, cleared an area east of Ubaydi along the northern and southern banks of the Euphrates River. The area directly to the west was cleared last month during Operation Steel Curtain. No terrorists were encountered during the operation; however, one Iraqi Soldier received minor injuries resulting from a roadside bomb attack. The Soldier was treated at the scene and returned to duty. No Iraqi civilian casualties were reported. No air strikes were conducted during the course of the operation. |
9 SCUZBALLS KILLED, 16 NABBED IN OVERNIGHT RAIDS
| December 21, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – At least nine Anti-Iraqi Forces were killed and 16 terror suspects were captured in two separate incidents in southern Baghdad Dec.19-20. Two vehicles were observed fleeing the scene of a raid Dec. 19. One group pulled a bound hostage from the vehicle and killed him. A U.S. warplane flying in support of operations in the area engaged and killed the terrorists. The warplane then switched targets, engaging the other vehicle which resulted in at least four AIF deaths and four detainees. Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment transported three of the detainees to a military internment facility for further questioning. One wounded detainee was evacuated to a military hospital. In a separate incident in Northern Babil, 12 suspected terrorists were detained and an unknown number of weapons and medical supplies were confiscated at a building during an early morning raid Dec. 20. |
SCUZBALL BLOWN UP BY OWN BOMB
"Hoist on his own petard", sayeth Shakespeare.
| December 20, 2005 TIKRIT, Iraq – One terrorist was killed and another severely injured when the improvised explosive device they were attempting to emplace detonated prematurely. The incident occurred Dec. 19, near the city of Tikrit. Tikrit police and Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team responded to the explosion. The police officers performed first-aid on the injured bomber, who was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The IED was composed of a 155 mm artillery shell and a detonating device, according to an explosives ordnance team investigating the explosion. Soldiers searching the area discovered another artillery round and several other IED components in a nearby vehicle. In addition to the wounded bomber, two other men were detained for allegedly attempting to help the surviving bomber avoid the responding security forces. |
IRAQI 8TH ARMY CERTIFIED
Iraqi Division will now plan and conduct operations with limited support from other forces.
| December 20, 2005 AD DIWANIYAH, Iraq -- The staff of the 8th Iraqi Army Division accomplished a certification process Dec. 20. This means the division will now have the ability to plan and conduct the operations with limited support of Coalition Forces. The units of the 8th Division will continue to move forward to achieve the full combat readiness. In the near future, final coordination with local and central administration will be completed in order to finalize the process of battle space transfer. The certification process was preceded by long term training, exercises and combat operations. Before certification on the division staff level, six battalions and two brigades of the 8th Iraqi Army Division completed certification process towards the goal of combat readiness. The main elements of the training process included planning and executing counterterrorism operations which encompassed cordon and search techniques check points, patrolling and convoy protection. Tactical training such as weapons proficiency, engineering, communication, medical support and logistics also contributed to the overall certification process. The main and final test was to check the capabilities of 8th IAD Soldiers during parliamentary elections in December. Division staff, under supervision of Multi-National Division Central South Military Transition Teams, had planned and conducted operations to provide the security environment during elections. Staff and Iraqi Soldiers passed this exam successfully. The ceremony of signing the protocol of certification took place in 8th Iraqi Army headquarters in ad Diwaniyah. Protocol was signed by MNDCS commander Maj. Gen. Piotr Czerwinski and 8th IAD commander Maj. Gen. Othman Ali Ferhood. Iraqi Land Forces commander and Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq commander participated in the ceremony. |
IRAQI GRUNTS TAKE LEAD IN OPERATION MOONLIGHT
| December 19, 2005 AR RAMADI, Iraq – Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division began Operation Alkamra Almaner (Moonlight) early this morning in western Al Anbar. Iraqi Army soldiers from three Iraqi battalions are conducting a cordon and knock operation east of Ubaydi. The Iraqi soldiers are being supported by 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Regimental Combat Team-2 and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). This is the first large-scale operation planned and executed by Iraqi soldiers of the 1st Brigade. The operation objective of Moonlight is to disrupt insurgent activity along the northern and southern banks of the Euphrates River near Ubaydi. The eastern Al Qa’im region, to include the cities of Husaybah, Karabilah and Ubaydi were cleared of al Qaeda in Iraq-led insurgents during Operation Steel Curtain last month which enabled residents to vote in the Dec. 15 Iraqi National Elections. |
CITIZEN LEADS GRUNTS TO MORTAR CACHE
| December 19, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq — A concerned local citizen in Tissa Nissan led a group of Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 64th Armor to a large mortar cache, Dec 16. The cache was buried and consisted of seven 60-millimeter mortar rounds. The Soldiers investigated the site and discovered another suspicious area in the vicinity. They investigated further and discovered another 19 60-millimeter mortar rounds. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the site and the ammunition was destroyed. |
MAJOR BOMB MAKER CACHE UNCOVERED NEAR HAWIJAH
Here's to 414 bombs that will NOT go off.
| December 18, 2005 TIKRIT, Iraq – A large cache of IED components was discovered by Soldiers from Task Force Band of Brothers, Dec. 15 near Hawijah. A pair of scout helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division spotted several individuals behaving suspiciously and the pilots radioed the location to a nearby patrol from the Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team. The pilots’ instincts were confirmed when the patrol found a cache buried nearby in several 55 gallon drums. The cache consisted of 414 two way radios, 48 circuit boards and more than 100 timing devices, all used as components in IED manufacturing. The cache also included small amounts of AK-47 ammunition, detonation cord, batteries and several bomb making manuals. This is the second time in less than a month that 1st BCT has uncovered a major cache in its area. Soldiers discovered more than 4,200 mortar rounds in a single cache Nov. 27 near Kirkuk. |
