Security in Al-Anbar improves, number of attacks drop

BAGHDAD — The Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman and the commanding general of the Ground Combat Element, Multi-National Force-West, held a press conference at the Combined Press Information Center Wednesday.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, the MNF-I spokesman, and U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. C. Mark Gurganus, commanding general of GCE, MNF-W, discussed progress in operations and security in western Iraq.

“We want to help the Iraqi people develop a secure, stable and self-governing nation they can be proud of,” said Caldwell. “We are here to help the Iraqis build institutions, which will offer their children a better life and a brighter tomorrow.”

According to Caldwell, fighting terrorism in Al-Anbar is very complex and challenging.

“The main enemy facing the Iraqi people in Al-Anbar is al-Qaeda,” he said. “They need for the people of Iraq to feel unsafe so that even their way of life seems preferable.”

As the community leaders of Al-Anbar stand against al-Qaeda by providing information to Iraqi and Coalition forces, progress in security has limited terrorist activities in the region.

“We’re seeing the attack numbers continuing to drop [in Al-Anbar], which is a very good indicator that the security system is getting better,” said Gurganus.

One year ago, it was difficult to get the Al-Anbar citizens to join the Iraqi Security Forces. However, when tribal leaders and local sheikhs decided al-Qaeda didn’t offer an ideology they were willing to follow, “the Awakening” began, said Gurganus.

“The Awakening” was coined by Al-Anbar leaders when the community leaders of Al-Anbar decided to fight al-Qaeda and began showing support for the Iraqi democracy.

“They’re offering their sons to be part of the Iraqi Army and Police,” Gurganus said. “Throughout the Euphrates River Valley and out in Rutbah, we have more people trying to join the Iraqi Police than we will be able to train right now.”

“We owe the success in the building of the Iraqi security forces to the tribal leaders,” he said.

As security in Al-Anbar improves due to Iraqi patriotism among the population, the Iraqi government is expected to take advantage of the opportunity given by Iraqi and Coalition forces to establish self-governance.

In other developments throughout Iraq:

Rashid Clearing Continues: Combined force seizes caches, detains insurgents

By Major Kirk Luedeke, 4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs Officer Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Security Forces, along with Coalition Soldiers from Multi-National Division – Baghdad continued clearing operations in southwestern Baghdad neighborhoods May 14 and 15, detaining two suspects believed to be involved in anti-coalition activities and seizing seven caches containing explosively-formed projectiles, artillery and mortar shells, weapons and other bomb-making materials.

Soldiers from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, along with national police and Iraqi Army troops, continued Operation Dragon Fire/Arrowhead Strike 10 to rid the Rashid District of southwestern Baghdad of terrorists and criminals and protect the population.

Iraqi Army troops from the 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division and Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment “Black Lions” found six EFP arrays, as well as multiple caches of weapons and munitions in two houses located in the Amel neighborhood. In addition to the EFPs, 82mm mortar rounds, rockets, rocket-propelled grenade warheads and an anti-tank missile were found and disposed of by explosive ordnance disposal teams.

Stryker troops arrested two individuals at the residence where one cache was found, and turned them over to Iraqi National Police for questioning. The cache included 75 57mm anti-aircraft rounds and more than 50 pounds of explosives. The munitions and explosives were confiscated and disposed of by EOD.

Five other caches consisted of numerous AK-47 assault rifles, several machine guns and sniper rifles, small arms ammunition, assorted artillery and mortar shells and other bomb-making materials.

The two days of operations included approximately 250 Iraqi Army and Iraqi National Police working with more than 800 U.S. Army Soldiers to keep pressure on against the extremist elements.

and

FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED, 30 SUSPECTS DETAINED IN OVERNIGHT RAIDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed four terrorists and detained 30 suspected terrorists during operations May 15 and 16 targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq leadership network.

Late Tuesday night, Coalition Forces raided three buildings north of Karmah associated with an individual known to facilitate financial deals for al-Qaeda senior leaders. While Coalition Forces searched the buildings, a truck with its lights off approached the cordon around the targeted building. After issuing multiple visual warnings, Coalition Forces fired warning shots, but the vehicle continued to approach the checkpoint. Coalition Forces engaged the truck with disabling shots, stopping it. One individual got out of the truck and moved to retrieve items from the back of the vehicle, and Coalition Forces took appropriate self-defensive measures in response to the hostile threat, engaging the vehicle and killing four men. Meanwhile, Coalition Forces in the buildings detained 17 suspected terrorists.

An operation in Anbar province targeted individuals allegedly tied to an al-Qaeda senior leader responsible for vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks and attacks on Iraqi infrastructure. Coalition Forces detained seven suspected terrorists in two connected raids there Wednesday morning.

During overnight operations in Mosul, Coalition Forces detained one individual suspected of associating with a known anti-Iraqi forces facilitator with ties to al-Qaeda, and three suspected terrorists tied to al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leadership. Enemy forces left on the scene fired on Coalition Forces as they departed the objective.

Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists Wednesday morning in a raid along the Tigris River near Tarmiyah targeting individuals with ties to a known al-Qaeda leader.

“We’re not waiting for al-Qaeda to strike, we’re taking the fight to them,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We’re putting pressure on them, hitting their networks over and over, and reducing their ability to operate.”

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