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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20051236.txt
NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
December 14, 2005
Release Number: 05-12-36
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TASK FORCE BAGHDAD SOLDIERS NAB 28 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Task Force Baghdad Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division detained 28 suspected terrorists in two separate incidents during continuous operations south of Baghdad Dec. 8-9.
The Soldiers of C Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment nabbed 17 individuals Dec. 9 after they were identified by an informant to be associated with terrorist activity.
The capture began while the unit was conducting a cordon and search. Alert Soldiers observed three suspicious men in a nearby field who appeared to be in an overwatch position.
A patrol was sent to question the three individuals. As the Soldiers approached, the suspects jumped up and ran away in two groups. Coalition Forces engaged two of the men, killing them.
One of the other terrorists ran into a nearby house. Soldiers from C Co. immediately searched the home, capturing the one individual who ran away, plus an additional 16 suspected terrorists.
In another incident, Soldiers from D Company, 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Reg. detained 11 suspected terrorists after stopping two vehicles in the early evening hours of Dec. 8.
The Soldiers were conducting a patrol south of Baghdad when they stopped two suspicious vehicles containing eight individuals. Upon further investigation of the vehicles, the Soldiers discovered multiple cell phones, AK-47 assault rifles, and two 120-millimeter rounds rigged as improvised explosive devices.
Six of the individuals were detained but two men ran into a nearby house. The patrol conducted a cordon and search of the house and found an additional three individuals inside. Soldiers detained all five suspects, plus the other six.
An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the scene to inspect the vehicles. The EOD team confirmed the cars were being used to transport and emplace IEDs. One vehicle was destroyed by EOD, and the other was confiscated by the Iraqi Army.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE TASK FORCE BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS PLANS AND OPERATIONS NCO, MASTER SGT DAVID ABRAMS AT: DAVID.ABRAMS@ID3.ARMY
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http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_2101.html
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Wed Dec 14 2005 14:17:33 GMT-0800.
Iraq
December 13, 2005
This Public Announcement advises Americans of the December 15 national elections taking place in Iraq, as well as the Department of State’s concerns about the security environment surrounding the upcoming elections. This Public Announcement supplements the Travel Warning of June 28, 2005, and expires on January 13, 2006.
National elections will take place in Iraq on December 15, 2005. The Iraqi government has announced that from midnight on Monday, December 12 until 0700 on Saturday, December 17, all land borders and airports will be closed. Travel across provincial boundaries within Iraq will also be prohibited. A curfew will be in place during this period from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. each day. Government ministries and offices also are expected to be closed during this period.
During this period, the potential for increased violence remains extremely high. The Department of State continues to strongly warn U.S. citizens against travel to Iraq and remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests in Iraq. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. In the lead-up to the elections, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has instructed official Americans throughout Iraq to limit their travel as much as possible. The Department of State recommends that all Americans living and working in Iraq take similar steps to limit their movements, observe the strictest of security measures, and defer any unnecessary travel around the country.
The U.S. Embassy is located in the International Zone. The Embassy can provide only limited emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq. At present, travel to and from the International Zone is extremely limited. American citizens who choose to visit or reside in Iraq despite this Public Announcement and the current Travel Warning are urged to pay close attention to their personal security and to inform the U.S. Embassy of their presence in Iraq. All Americans in Iraq are strongly encouraged to register with the Embassy at the following website: https://travelregistration.state.gov/IBRS/.
American citizens may obtain the latest security information or other information about Iraq by calling the U.S. Embassy, located in the International Zone, at: 1-240-553-0584, ext. 5340 or ext. 5635, or Iraqna cellular phones: 7901-732-134 or 7901-168-383 or by E-mail: usconsulbaghdad@state.gov or via the U.S. Embassy’s website: http://iraq.usembassy.gov. In the event of an extreme emergency after hours, please call 1-914-822-5493.
Updated information on travel and security in Iraq may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. For further information, please consult the Travel Warning for Iraq, the Consular Information Sheet for Iraq, the current Worldwide Caution and the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcements, all of which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel/state.gov.
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2005/20051214_3662.html
Iraqi, Coalition Forces Capture Terrorists, Seize Weapons
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005 – Iraqi Army troops and coalition forces captured 11 insurgents and seized six caches Dec. 13 in operations southeast of Baqubah, Iraq, military officials reported today.
The caches included eight anti-tank mines, six 155 mm artillery rounds, 48 assorted rockets, 48 mixed mortars rounds, 16 anti-personnel rocket-propelled grenades, 26 RPG boosters and a mortar tube assembly. Explosive ordnance disposal personnel were called in to destroy the munitions. The suspects are being detained pending further investigation.
Also on Dec. 13, Iraqi army soldiers and coalition forces uncovered a cache hidden in a cave north of Husaybah.
Troops found an RPG system, eight rockets, two cases of small machine-gun ammunition and an extra machine-gun barrel. Mattresses and other items suggested the cave was used as an insurgent safe house, officials said. The cache was destroyed in place, and the weapons were turned over to authorities.
Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 4th Battalion, 1st Iraqi Intervention Force, and coalition forces discovered a cache and a functioning roadside bomb Dec. 13 south of Fallujah after receiving a tip.
In addition to the bomb, the cache contained 20 120 mm mortar rounds, 17 88 mm mortar rounds, three 60 mm mortar rounds, a 150 mm artillery round, two guided missiles, six kilograms of TNT, three RPG rounds, a box of 20 mm anti-aircraft rounds, a machine gun and a box of machine gun ammunition.
A cordon of the area was established while the cache was inventoried and transported to a location where it was destroyed, officials said.
Iraqi police arrested five people who were transporting a bomb in their vehicle Dec. 12.
Police stopped the car at a checkpoint and one passenger jumped out of the vehicle and tried to escape. The suspect was caught, and the rest of the car's occupants were arrested after further investigation produced a concealed explosive device.
The bomb consisted of a 60 mm mortar round, TNT and plastic explosive contained in a metal box.
The provincial explosive ordnance disposal team took custody of the bomb, and the detainees were turned over to the Najaf police anti-crime Unit for processing and further investigation.
(Compiled from Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq news releases.)
Related Site:
Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq