Saturday, January 7
SECURITY BERM UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT SINIYAH
In a return to an ancient method of keeping out barbarians, a small village is building an earth wall around their town.
| January 6, 2006 TIKRIT, Iraq – In a combined effort to reduce insurgent violence in As Siniyah, community leaders, Iraqi security forces and coalition Soldiers began construction on a berm around the village Jan. 5. Following the recent spike in insurgent roadside and vehicle-borne bombs, leaders of this small village near Bayji in northern Salah Ad Din Province discussed what measures could be taken to improve the security situation. Local police, city council members, sheiks and religious leaders met with leaders from the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalary Regiment 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to discuss the operation. As Siniyah's community leaders have long insisted those responsible for the violence were outsiders, not residents of the village. An overwhelming majority of those at today's meeting agreed that a berm would prevent these outsiders from using the village as a safe haven. Once completed, the berm will be approximately 10 kilometers in length and nearly eight feet in height. Iraqi police and soldiers will man the access points into the village as well as guard towers being built in conjunction with the berm. Iraqi citizens suffer the most from insurgent violence. Almost 80 percent of those killed and wounded by IEDs are Iraqis, not Coaltion Soldiers. Provincial leaders expressed their approval of the berming operation. After a similar operation to deny insurgents access to the city of Samarra in August 2005, the level of violence sharply dropped off. Work on the berm is expected to continue for several days. |
Thursday, January 5
SCUZBALLS DIES IN DETENTION, AAAW!
| January 5, 2006 CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – An unidentified male Iraqi detainee died yesterday while being transferred from Ar Rutbah to Camp Korean Village Jan 4. The man was detained after a coordinated series of raids, along with 22 other men suspected of insurgent activities. When the convoy arrived at the detention facility, Marines found the man unresponsive. Medical personnel were immediately summoned and rendered aid. However, the man did not respond to treatment and was pronounced dead. The cause and circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation. |
SUICIDE SCUZBALL FAILS TO STOP COP RECRUITMENT
| January 5, 2006 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq– Despite a suicide bomber attack at 10:55 a.m. on a crowd of Ramadi citizens at an Iraqi police recruitment center near the Ramadi Glass and Ceramics Works, the applicants returned and continued the screening process. Approximately 30 Iraqi males were killed when the bomber detonated his suicide vest. Military physicians immediately began treating the wounded until the injured could be transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment. The four-day Iraqi Police recruitment and screening drive in Ramadi started Jan. 2 and has produced 600 qualified applicants during the first three days of screening. Those candidates selected will attend 10 weeks of Basic Iraqi Police Training in Baghdad before returning to patrol Ramadi’s streets. The applicants must be between the ages of 20 to 35 and successfully complete the screening requirements established by the Minister of the Interior, who governs the Iraqi Police Force. |
SUICIDE SCUZBALL EXPLODES IN RAMADI
| January 5, 2006 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – A suicide bomb exploded at Jan. 5 at 10:55 a.m. near the Ramadi Glass and Ceramics Works where screening for Iraqi Police Officers was taking place. The extent of the casualties is not known at this time; however, initial reports indicate the suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest targeted the applicants. The four-day Iraqi Police recruitment and screening drive in Ramadi started Jan. 2 and has produced 600 qualified applicants during the first three days of screening. At 10:30 a.m. approximately 1,000 prospective candidates were waiting in line to apply for a position for the new Iraqi Police Force currently being reconstituted in Al Anbar. Those candidates selected will attend 10 weeks of Basic Iraqi Police Training in Baghdad before returning to Ramadi to police its streets. The applicants must be between the ages of 20 to 35 years of age and successfully complete the screening requirements established by the Minister of the Interior, who governs the Iraqi Police Force. |
GRUNTS TAKE PILES OF GUNS N' AMMO, 11 SCUZBALLS
| January 5, 2006 TIKRIT, Iraq – Soldiers from Task Force Band of Brothers seized four weapons caches and detained 11 suspected terrorists Jan. 4 in northern Iraq. Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, conducting a patrol near Hawija, detained eight suspects and destroyed a large collection of weapons and explosives Jan. 4. Three of the men were caught as they tried to run away when the patrol came upon their truck stopped alongside the road. Five other men were discovered in the truck. The weapons included rocket-propelled grenades and launchers, machine guns and IED components. Three more suspects were taken into custody after another 1st BCT patrol near Hawija stopped their vehicle and discovered 30 pistols. A local man reported a cache of approximately 6,000 anti-aircraft artillery rounds to a patrol near Bayji. The cache was transported to a nearby military base for disposal. A fourth cache, containing 25 artillery rounds was discovered and taken to a base near Kirkuk for disposal. |
IRAQI AND MNDCS GRUNTS SEIZE PILE O' GUNS N' AMMO, 6 SCUZBALLS
| January 4, 2006 Diwaniyah Province, Iraq -- MNDCS and Iraqi Soldiers seized illegal weapon caches in Diwaniyah and Wasit provinces. During operations six suspicious men were detained and the following weapons and munitions were found: 75 assorted mines, 40 artillery and mortar rounds, seven RPG launchers with 69 rounds, 50 hand grenades, sniper rifles, machine guns and explosive material. |
SKY SPY SEES SCUZBALLS, BLOWS 'EM UP
Scuzballs were observed placing a roadside bomb. They were tracked to their house and targeted.
| January 3, 2006 TIKRIT, Iraq – Coalition forces reconnaissance aircraft observed three men suspected of emplacing an improvised explosive device digging in a road near Bayji after 9:00 p.m. on Jan.2, prompting a military response against them. An unmanned aerial vehicle from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division observed the would-be attackers as they dug a hole following the common pattern of road-side bomb emplacement. The individuals were assessed as posing a threat to Iraqi civilians and coalition forces, and the location of the three men was relayed to close air support pilots. The individuals left the road site and were followed from the air to a nearby building. Coalition forces employed precision guided munitions on the structure. Local Iraqi police were the first authorities at the scene to conduct post-event response. |
Monday, January 2
OPERATION GREEN TRIDENT UNCOVERS TONS OF GUNS N' AMMO
72 buried caches yielded 10 tons of munitions. Weight of explosives alone inside munitions equaled 2,200 pounds.
| January 2, 2006 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – U.S. Marines discovered more than ten metric tons of munitions hidden at 72 cache sites 39 km south of Fallujah during the week-long Operation Green Trident. First Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8 began the operation last week near the village of Al Latifiyah to search suspected locations for hidden weapon caches. More than 1,000 artillery and mortar rounds were unearthed along with scores of rocket propelled grenades and hand grenades. Most of the caches were shallowly buried along the banks of the Euphrates River and surrounding area. The weight of the explosives contained within these munitions is approximately one metric ton (2,200 lbs). The artillery and mortar rounds are commonly used by insurgents to make improvised explosive devices. |
Sunday, January 1
3 RAIDS NAB 23 SCUZBALLS
| December 31, 2005 TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers captured 23 suspected terrorists who were the targets of three raids Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 in northern Iraq. Soldiers from Iraq’s 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Army Division and 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division captured the primary target of the operation along with 10 more suspected terrorists west of Muqdadiyah. The operation was designed to pick up a Baath Party leader who was behind many attacks on Iraqi and U.S. forces, and the civilian population in the area. Elsewhere, more Soldiers from 2nd Bn., 2nd Bde., 5th IAD and 3rd BCT, 3rd ID nabbed four anti-Iraqi forces as part of a time sensitive raid on two houses in Muqdadiyah. The troops used tips from informants on the whereabouts of the four individuals who are believed to be responsible for IED and small arms attacks against the Coalition and Iraqi security forces in the local area. Troops from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment zeroed in on eight people involved in terrorist activities in Tal Afar. All eight of the suspects were picked up without incident in the raid and taken to a nearby military base for questioning. None of the Soldiers involved in the two days of operations were injured as they continued to remove those responsible for acts of terrorism and violence against the civilians and security forces in the area. |
IRAQI COPS FOIL KIDNAP ATTEMPT
Cops chase kidnappers, free victim after gun battle.
| December 30, 2005 TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Police and Army units successfully rescued the brother of a Salah Ad Din Provincial Council member and arrested three suspects after a failed kidnapping attempt in Tikrit Dec. 29. Police chased the kidnappers from Tikrit to the village of al Alam, about 10 miles east of the city, before the suspects abandoned their vehicle and dragged their victim into a nearby house. As the officers approached the building, the kidnappers opened fire on them. The police secured the area around the house and called for support from a 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division unit stationed nearby. The Iraqi troopers, augmented by U.S. Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, entered the house and quickly subdued the suspects. No one was injured during the incident and the suspects were taken into custody by the police who are investigating the incident. |
109 SCUZBALLS, 4 PILES OF GUNS N' AMMO TAKEN
Iraqi/Coalition grunts and Iraqi cops detain scuzballs in several locations, over a 12 day period.
| December 30, 2005 MOSUL, Iraq -- Iraqi Security Forces along with Multi-National Forces from Task Force Freedom detained 109 suspected terrorists and seized four weapons caches in northern Iraq, Dec. 17-29. Iraqi Army Soldiers from 3rd Battalion 4th Brigade 2nd Division detained 13 individuals suspected of terrorist activity during separate raids in Mosul Dec. 20-29. Iraqi Army Soldiers from 2nd Battalion 1st Brigade 2nd Division, detained five individuals suspected of terrorist activities during a raid in Mosul Dec.22. Iraqi Army Soldiers from 1st Battalion 1st Brigade 4th Division detained two individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a raid Dec. 28. Iraqi Army Soldiers from 3rd Battalion 4th Brigade 2nd Division detained one individual suspected of terrorist activity during a raid in Tal Afar Dec. 20. Iraqi Commandos from 3rd Battalion 4th Brigade and Soldiers from 1st Battalion 17th Infantry Regiment detained one individual during a raid in Mosul Dec. 23. Iraqi Police detained six individuals suspected of terrorist activity during operations in Mosul Dec. 18-22. Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment detained eight individuals suspected of terrorist activity during operations in Mosul Dec. 17-25. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activity in Bayji, Dec. 28. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment detained 25 individuals suspected of terrorist activity in Mosul Dec. 19-28. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 10 Infantry Regiment detained one individual suspected of terrorist activity during operations in Mosul, Dec. 27. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st infantry Regiment, detained 20 individuals suspected terrorist activity during separate operations in Mosul, Dec. 27. Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, detained 10 individuals for suspected terrorist activity during operations near Tal Afar, Dec. 22. Soldiers from TF 5-7 detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a raid north of Balad, Dec. 26. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, detained 11 individuals suspected of terrorist activity and discovered a weapons cache consisting of 180 mortar rounds, a functional machinegun, and artillery fuses during separate operations in the Kirkuk province Dec. 27. Soldiers from 2/3 ACR discovered a weapons cache during operations near Tal Afar Dec.17. Soldiers from 43rd Combat Engineer Company discovered two weapons caches consisting of paraphernalia for making IEDs, AK-47 ammunition, and magazines during operations in Mosul Dec. 20. Soldiers from 4/23 discovered a weapons cache consisting of 16 120mm mortar rounds during operations in Mosul, Dec. 25. Soldiers from 1-17 Inf. discovered a weapons cache consisting of two AK-47’s, seven magazines, one pistol, five rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition, and blasting caps during operations in Mosul, Dec. 28. |
IRAQI/U.S. GRUNTS CLEAR RAMADI STREETS
| December 29, 2005 CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – Iraqi Army soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Division working alongside of 2nd Brigade Combat Team (28th Infantry Division) are clearing the streets of known insurgents in western Ramadi. In the past two days, 1-1-7 IA forces have detained five targeted insurgents, to include Jassim Mohammed Fayadh, a high value insurgent leader, allegedly responsible for financing terrorism in the Tammim neighborhood and known to have supplied arms and munitions to Al Qaeda in Iraq. The four additional detainees are under investigation for coordinating insurgent attacks and activities, including the storage and transportation of weapon systems and munitions. “Our battalion has been working in western Ramadi with the Coalition Forces for the last eight months. During that time, we have fought and captured many insurgents. Yesterday was a big step to bringing safety and security to this area for our local citizens and their families. We will continue to work with our coalition partners to bring security to western Ramadi,” said Lt. Col. Mustafa, Commanding Officer, 1-1-7 IA. The insurgents have been placed under custody of Coalition Forces and will be tried in the Iraqi Criminal Court system. There were no injuries to local Iraqi citizens, Iraqi Army soldiers or Coalition Forces. Additionally, there were no damages to equipment during the capture of these high level insurgent leaders. |
6 SCUZBALLS, PILE OF GUNS N' AMMO TAKEN IN MUSLAKHAH
| December 24, 2005 TIKRIT, Iraq -- An air assault mission conducted by 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, resulted in the capture of several suspected terrorists and the seizure of a large cache of ammunition in Muslakhah, Iraq, Dec. 23. Elements from Company C, 1-187, landed in Muslakhah aboard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and began searching the village for individuals listed as being involved with terrorist activities in the area. Within one hour of touching down, they identified and detained two individuals on the list of suspects. “Every day we win small victories,” said Capt. Christopher Judge, commander, Company C. “But when we can get someone on our list, it is a huge boost.” By the day’s end, the unit had apprehended six individuals. During the air assault mission, Soldiers of Company D, 1-187, began an amphibious assault on an island in the Tigris River adjacent to Muslakhah. While patrolling the banks of the island, they discovered a cache of more than 100 mortar rounds – 45-82mm rounds and 64-120mm rounds. They also seized 20 rockets and 600 rounds of small arms ammunition. “We are trying to make it difficult for [terrorists] to operate [in Mulakhah],” Judge said. The town of Muslakhah, north of Al Fatah, is located near an oil pipeline that is under construction, which will bring much needed revenue to the area when complete. Attacks on the workers have disrupted its construction in the past, but have stopped since the Rakkasans took over the area Nov. 1. The Rakkasans continue to work with Iraqi forces to reduce attacks and safeguard the pipeline. |
11 PILES OF GUNS N' AMMO BLOWN UP NEAR BAYJI
Citizen tip lead grunts to one pile, then another, then another, and so on.
| December 24, 2005 TIKRIT, Iraq – Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team thought they had discovered a single cache of weapons near Bayji Dec. 20 after a tip from a local resident. On Dec. 23, the Soldiers finished unearthing the last of the weapons from the eleventh cache at the site. “This place is basically an ammo supply point for the enemy,” said Capt. Matt Bartlett, commander of Company B, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. “Any attack they wanted to do, whether an IED or small-arms, they could get what they needed here.” The Rakkasan Soldiers slammed the door to the supply point Dec. 23 with three immense detonations conducted by an explosive ordnance disposal team. More than 1,600 rockets and missiles, 283 large artillery shells, 27 anti-tank mines and 80 assault weapons were pulled from the ground along with nearly a ton of bulk explosives. It was unclear if the cache was in use by terrorists prior to its excavation. Fresh tire tracks and the lack of wear on some of the weapons and packaging indicated that the deposits were new. In other caches, the weapons were corroded and had documentation with entries ending in 1984, dating them back to before the first Gulf War. Whether the cache was active or not, its contents will never be used to harm anyone thanks to the three labor-intensive days the Soldiers spent excavating the site. In most cases the sites were dug up with shovels then loaded and consolidated by hand. The resident who tipped off the Soldiers about the cache not only ensured the safety of the local residents from AIF attacks, but also collected a reward of $2,500 for the tip. The U.S. and its allies offer rewards for any information that lead to the capture of certain high profile terrorists and the tools utilized in their trade. This cache find will certainly hamper the enemy’s ability to carry out future attacks against the civilians, security forces of Iraq and all of the Coalition Forces trying to ensure the democratic process will find a peaceful home here in Iraq. |
2 HIGH LEVEL SCUZBALLS NABBED IN MOSUL
Captured scuzball snitches on associate within days. A very tough fellow!
| December 23, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – An Ansar al-Sunna of Mosul Media Emir and Administrator were captured by Coalition Forces during raids on suspected terrorist safe houses near Mosul. Muhammad ‘Amir Husayn Mar’I al-Sufi, known as Abu Naba, was an Ansar al-Sunna media emir in Mosul and ‘Adnan ‘Abd-al-Wahab ‘Abdallah Mahmud al-Badrani, known as Abu Hudayfah, an Ansar al-Sunna administrator, were captured Nov. 23 and Dec. 5, 2005 respectively. Abu Naba was responsible for disseminating propaganda - in this capacity, he produced propaganda fliers and compact disks focusing on military operations, anti-voting messages, Jihad messages and prayers. He also facilitated videos of attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces to be posted to the Internet. He purchased cameras for terrorists to film violent acts including bombings, kidnappings and executions. Abu Naba helped produce the final video products and delivered the videos to other Ansar al-Sunna leaders for posting on the Internet. Based on information Abu Naba and other detained terrorists provided to Coalition Forces, Abu Hudayfah, allegedly in charge of logistics and support for Ansar al-Sunna of Mosul was also identified and captured. |
3 SCUZBALLS NABBED PLACING FAKE BOMBS
Fake roadside bombs meant to gauge reaction.
| December 23, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq Three terrorists were captured as they were caught emplacing a hoax roadside bomb in east Baghdad Dec. 21. At about 6 p.m., a patrol from 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry observed a civilian vehicle dropping cement blocks in the median of a major thoroughfare. The patrol intercepted the suspicious vehicle and detained three suspected terrorists. Additional elements of 3-7 CAV secured the site surrounding the suspicious items and an explosive ordnance disposal team investigated the objects and found them to be hoax roadside bombs. "These suspected terrorists were not placing cement blocks in the road for any other reason than to terrorize and intimidate the population. They are currently being detained at a military detention facility," said Maj. Paul Reese, operations officer for 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. "Anyone found guilty of emplacing a hoax roadside bomb is a terrorist, make no mistake about it; the good people of Iraq are disgusted by these types of games." Hoax roadside bombs are commonly used by terrorists to check how Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces will react. |
LOCAL LEADS GRUNTS TO ROCKET FACTORY
Another Iraqi citizen opts for democracy.
| December 23, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq - A local national identified a home in east Baghdad that was being used as a factory to make improvised rocket-launchers. At about 6:30 p.m. elements of 3rd squadron, 7th Cavalry, raided the home and discovered 15 rocket-launchers were in the process of being built and one 57 millimeter rocket was completed and ready to be fired. No one was present in the home at the time of the raid. “It is encouraging that the Iraqi citizens are continuing to choose the side of the new government over the terrorists. The Iraqi citizens know that providing information against the terrorists to Coalition or Iraqi Security Forces will help to improve the security situation in their neighborhoods,” said Col. Joseph DiSalvo, commander of Coalition Forces in east Baghdad. All equipment in the home was seized and will be used as evidence against the homeowners when they are caught. Iraqi Security Forces are continuing the search. |
GRUNTS FIND, BLOW UP GUNS N' AMMO
Patrol makes find Northeast of Baghdad
| December 21, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq — Task Force Baghdad Soldiers on patrol discovered a large cache of munitions in northeast Baghdad Dec. 21. The Soldiers from A Troop, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment found 27 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, three 82 mm mortar rounds, 13 armor-piercing rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 28 rocket-propelled propellant chargers, 10,000 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, and 400 4.5 mm rounds. All munitions were turned over to an explosive ordnance disposal team for destruction by a controlled detonation. |
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. |
