Coalition, Iraqis Launch Massive Search for Missing Soldiers

DoD ^ | 6/17/06

[bnelson44]

Coalition, Iraqis Launch Massive Search for Missing Soldiers

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, June 17, 2006 – Coalition and Iraqi officials have launched a massive search operation for two coalition soldiers missing following an incident in Yusufiyah, Iraq, yesterday.

Multinational Force Iraq spokesman Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said today a third soldier was killed in the fight. The names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The soldiers were manning a checkpoint at a canal crossing near the Euphrates River. Forces at a nearby traffic-control point heard an explosion and small-arms fire at about 7:55 p.m. yesterday.

A quick-reaction force responded and arrived on the scene within 15 minutes, Caldwell said. They found one soldier killed and the other two missing.

Those missing have been listed as "duty status and whereabouts unknown." This category changes to "missing in action" if they are not found in 10 days.

"Coalition soldiers and Iraqi security forces initiated a search operation within minutes to determine the status of (the missing) soldiers, and we are currently using every means at our disposal on the ground, in the air and in the water to find them," Caldwell said.

Following the incident, commanders notified all traffic-control points to stop civilian traffic and increase security. Coalition officials also dispatched helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles to aid the search.

"Within an hour of the incident, blocking positions were established throughout the area in a concerted effort to focus the search and prevent movement of suspects out of the area," Caldwell said.

In addition, coalition forces launched three raids, one today and two yesterday, on suspected terrorist safe houses in the area. Dive teams are searching the canals and river near the site.

Yusufiyah has been the site of many extremist incidents. In April, coalition forces killed and captured a number of foreign fighters hiding in the area. Battles in May resulted in the deaths of more than 40 Sunni extremists. Yusifiyah is a predominantly Sunni town about 10 miles south of Baghdad.

Coalition and Iraqi forces met with local leaders to enlist their aid in finding the missing soldiers.

"We continue to search using every means available and will not stop looking until we find the missing soldiers," Caldwell said. "Make no mistake: We never stop looking for our servicemembers until their status is definitively determined, and we will continue to pray for their safe return."

Only one soldier is listed as missing in action during the three-plus years of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Terrorists said they captured Army Sgt. Matt Maupin in April 2004. A videotape alleged to show Maupin appeared on an extremist Web site.

Related Site:

Multinational Force Iraq

News Archive

[nmh]

Pray hard that they are not in the WRONG HANDS.

It would further break my heart to see them in orange jumpsuits suffering the same fate as Nick Berg.

Pray hard for these two.

[bnelson44]

I wouldn't want to be a resident in one of those nearby towns right now.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

PRAY HARD FOR A SHIELD OF PROTECTION AROUND THESE TROOPS.May they be found safe!

[skyman]

I hate to think what could happen to those poor soldiers.
Another link said they were taken away by car so they probably took them far away, quickly.

I read this was an ambush and plan to capture soldiers.
Knowing the atrocities the bad guys commit I'm sure the soldiers would avoid capture at any cost. I wonder if they ran out of ammo?

[MikeA]

I predicted this would happen long ago. We should NEVER have left 3 soldiers alone at a checkpoint. At the very least 3 back up soldiers should have been positioned 20 or 30 yards away for defense in case of something like this. I knew these Al Qaeda pukes were going to try to kidnap some of our soldiers for revenge in the death of Zarqawi and that it would likely happen at a checkpoint. I took comfort in thinking however Iraqis were running most checkpoints now. Why they were not running this one I do not know. Anyway, besides the obvious heartbreak over what will happen to these men, we can kiss the good news from Iraq over the last couple weeks goodbye with endless reruns of beheading footage now which will send anti-war fervor through the roof. I'm sorry, but this was just stupid of the Army to have not seen this coming. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

[bnelson44]

REMEMBER, VERY IMPORTANT:

First reports of ANY action in wartime are OFTEN very wrong.

[Bahbah]

I'm sure the soldiers would avoid capture at any cost. I wonder if they ran out of ammo?

I was wondering the same thing. Prayers continue.

[rottndog]

Yeah, the new head of Al Qaeda needs to make a statement, and what a way to do it. But we need to wait for an investigation to see what happened before coming to conlusions--and in the mean time Pray, Pray, Pray for these soldiers' safety.

[MplsSteve]

Mike, that's exactly what I was thinking.

Maybe there are more knowledgable military types on here who'd think differently.

Only three soldiers at a checkpoint in a heavily Sunni area?

And it took 15 minutes for a rapid-response team to arrive?

Am I wrong here or does it seem like we may be spread a bit too thin in parts of Iraq?

I pray these two troops were not captured and doing escape and evasion right now.

[TXKATE]

Notice the Times' sources for this supposed capture-Iraqis. There is no confirmation by the military. I would be very wary of this being true. I hope and pray that its not and I take comfort that its the NY Times reporting it-less possibility of it being true.

[SevenMinusOne]

I predicted this would happen long ago. We should NEVER have left 3 soldiers alone at a checkpoint. At the very least 3 back up soldiers should have been positioned 20 or 30 yards away for defense in case of something like this. I knew these Al Qaeda pukes were going to try to kidnap some of our soldiers for revenge in the death of Zarqawi and that it would likely happen at a checkpoint. I took comfort in thinking however Iraqis were running most checkpoints now. Why they were not running this one I do not know. Anyway, besides the obvious heartbreak over what will happen to these men, we can kiss the good news from Iraq over the last couple weeks goodbye with endless reruns of beheading footage now which will send anti-war fervor through the roof. I'm sorry, but this was just stupid of the Army to have not seen this coming. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

Shut the hell up! Regarding a situation in which you know nothing about - Along with your negative BS regarding all the good our soldiers have done will be for nothing "as anti-war fervor will go through the roof" - That is complete BS!

This is a war zone. Sh*t goes wrong. It is that simple. Our warriors know and accept this - And the level of credence you give to a bunch of anti-war pathetic putzes is ridiculous.

God bless these men and their families. Our warriors will get them back and serve justice to those responsible. Of this I have no doubt.

[roverman2K6]

I totally agree, the ARMY does not ever seem to learn like the Marines, they are totally unequipped for this type of warfare, sorry Army guys, but in this type of theater they should be cooks and leave the fighting to the Marines

[SE Mom]

This is neither the time, nor the place for showing off your ignorance.

Shame on you.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Thanks for your uplifting comments. Nobody has been beheaded yet.

[HardStarboard]

It should be the duty of the NY times to turn their Iraqi source of the "masked men" report over to US forces for interogation!!

Is there a chance in hell of that happening.....no!

Personally, I wouldn't blame a US soldier for holding a gun to the NYT reporters head to get this information.

[livius]

I read on another thread that there actually were more US soldiers, but there was an initial diversionary attack that lured one or two of the Humvees off in pursuit. Then more black-clad, masked enemy came out of the date and almond groves along the side of the road and attacked the soldiers who had remained at the checkpoint.

[teletech]

NY Times now reports that the soldiers were captured by masked men. Not the best of news.

You mean the make it up as we go along as long as it makes Bush look bad NYT? I'll wait for our military to give us the REAL story.

[nmh]

"The two Americans, who were not identified, were taken prisoner at dusk on Friday by a group of masked guerrillas who mounted a surprise attack on their Humvee near the Yusufiya, a town that is a stronghold of Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, Iraqis in the area said."

...

"According to Iraqis in the area, who were interviewed by telephone from Baghdad, the two American soldiers who survived the gun battle were led away by the insurgents to a pair of cars. "

"Hassan Abdul Hadi was tending to his date palms and apple trees near the village of Karagol when he heard gunfire and explosions. When he walked to the road, he spotted an American Humvee, he said."

"I was shocked to see the Humvee — nothing seemed to be wrong with it," Mr. Hadi said. "Then I heard the men shouting 'God is great!' and I saw that they had taken the Americans with them. The gunmen took them and drove away."

---

Pray all the harder that these men be found live ... what a prize this would be for the "god is great" crowd. As they saw of heads - that is their chant.

I purposely write that "god" since it is NOT my God. Their god is Satan.

To all, PRAY for these brave men.