Posted on 08/27/2006 10:40:50 AM PDT by mdittmar
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Operations by Iraqi security forces and Coalition troops this week resulted in the capture of multiple suspected terrorists and terrorist associates.
Baghdad
Iraqi army forces conducted precision raids on three separate objectives Aug. 18 capturing three death squad leaders, all of whom participated in a massacre of Iraqi families in al Jihad on July 9th. As Coalition advisers provided support, Iraqi forces captured all three of these individuals in the Al Rasheed district without incident. The three captured terrorists are senior-level insurgent-cell leaders believed to be responsible for the July 9 ambush of Iraqi families at a checkpoint in the al Jihad area. Their cells are also believed to be responsible for kidnappings and murders in two Baghdad districts; improvised explosive device, or IED attacks in the city; and burning and looting local businesses. One of the individuals is also believed to be responsible for kidnapping and murdering Iraqi citizens and then attaching the bodies to cars and dragging them through the streets.
On Aug. 20, a military operation in Baghdad targeting a terrorist with links to vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, kidnapping and foreign fighter facilitation led to death of one terrorist and the detention of another. Reliable, credible intelligence indicates the targeted individual was involved in al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist activity.
On Aug. 23, troops fired upon a vehicle that had run a nearby checkpoint, killing two of the four passengers. The vehicle approached at a high rate of speed, disregarding several layers of warning indicators, including reflective panels, concertina wire and warning shots. As the vehicle continued to close on the checkpoint, forces fired to disable the vehicle.
Later on the 23rd, ground forces captured a terrorist who, after questioning, led them to an area with several vehicles and a cache of explosives that is a potential VBIED production area. As forces continued to clear the area, they encountered two terrorists who fired upon them. They immediately returned fire, killing both terrorists. One terrorist was found to have been wearing a suicide vest, but was not able to detonate himself prior to being killed.
Also on the 23rd, two men were rescued after being found bound and gagged inside a shipping container in an area south of Baghdad. The kidnap victims told their rescuers they had been held there for approximately two days by a group of six to eight terrorists who were planning to execute them. They stated that executions occurred there on a daily basis.
The before mentioned VBIED production area was also the target of an air strike on the morning of Aug. 25. Seven large secondary explosions were noted after the initial bombs were dropped on the target, indicating the presence of explosive material within the structure. Additional ordnance was fired at an empty bus suspected of being a rigged VBIED, also resulting in secondary explosions. Other forces recovered a car with pre-cursor improvised explosive device evidence in the same container yard in June of this year. They suspected explosives caches were stored under the containers due to large secondary explosions following the neutralization of caches recovered then.
Kirkuk
Five terrorists were killed and six other suspects’ detained during a raid near Kirkuk Aug. 19 that resulted in the capture of a Kurdish extremist facilitator who is tied to senior foreign al-Qaida members. He is also a bomb maker who produces suicide vests, improvised explosive devices, and remote control detonation devices, and is suspected of being involved with the Aug. 15 suicide truck bombing in Mosul, which killed nine and wounded 42 others. Multiple terrorists with weapons approached the ground forces as they arrived at the objective area and neared the target building. The ground force fired upon the armed terrorists, killing three of them. Ground forces then continued clearing the adjacent buildings, killing two other enemy forces as the terrorists maneuvered to a building where multiple weapons and other military equipment were found.
Ar Ramadi
A raid in Ar Ramadi on Aug. 20th targeted a Saudi Arabian al-Qaida member who was actively conducting terrorist activities in Iraq. The operation resulted in one enemy killed and 14 detained. A subsequent search of the target area led to the discovery of one suicide vest, multiple small arms, and a vehicle rigged as a car bomb that was destroyed on site. Credible and compelling intelligence indicated the Saudi al-Qaida member, also known for previous terrorist activity in Afghanistan and Chechnya, was harboring men preparing for suicide operations and was expecting more terrorists at his location to engage in suicide attacks in the area. To maintain the security of local Iraqi civilians and prevent use of the weapons against Coalition forces, the car bomb and other items were detonated, destroying the target compound.
Mosul
A raid near Mosul Aug. 23 resulted in two terrorists killed and two suspects detained. Upon entering the target building, one terrorist was shot as he attempted to grab the barrel of the lead element’s weapon. A military medic immediately attempted resuscitation, but to no avail. A second armed terrorist was shot and killed as he began maneuvering towards the troops. Compelling intelligence indicated that the targeted terrorist was the main facilitator for a high level al Qaida leader responsible for bringing foreign terrorists, money and vehicles into the country to disrupt the establishment of the newly formed Iraqi government. Troops found multiple weapons and grenades on the objective as they searched the area, and detained two suspected terrorists for questioning. A woman with several children was also discovered in the compound. None of the women or children were injured.
Muqdadiyah
A raid early Aug. 25 targeted a close confidant of senior Al Qaida in Iraq leaders led to one terrorist killed in Muqdadiyah. As ground forces approached the target house, an armed terrorist attempting to engage them was shot and killed. Iraqi and Coalition forces are currently assessing information obtained on site to determine the terrorist’s identity.
Military officials said the removal of terrorists in Iraq will significantly hamper al-Qaida in Iraq’s abilities to move personnel into and out of Iraq as well as cut financial support channels. Officials said it will also allow Iraqi and Coalition forces to focus more attention to security within Baghdad.
One of the groups that needs to be targeted is the Jaish al Mahdi.
Those Iraqi soldiers have some darn good shooting to kill a man before he's able to blow himself up.
Guess he gets to meet that one 72 year old virgin;)
and their leader...Mookie
Hmmmmm,...hadn't heard that from the LameStreamMedia Presstitutes
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.