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Lightning Hammer Disrupts Terrorists in Iraq’s Diyala Province
American Forces Press Service ^

Posted on 08/24/2007 5:26:48 PM PDT by SandRat

BAGHDAD, Aug. 24, 2007 – Operation Lightning Hammer concluded Aug. 22 after a 12-day, large-scale operation to disrupt al Qaeda and other terrorist elements in the Diyala River Valley, a complex area of villages and palm groves in Iraq’s Diyala province. The operation, which involved about 16,000 Iraqi and coalition forces clearing some 50 villages, was a key element in Multinational Corps Iraq’s overall Operation Phantom Strike, and it resulted in 26 al Qaeda members killed, 37 suspected terrorists detained, and the discovery of 10 weapons caches.

“The strength and determination of the fighting men and women from the Iraqi and coalition forces showed great results during Lightning Hammer,” said Army Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of coalition forces in Diyala province. “We have continued to diminish their supplies and disable al Qaeda’s abilities to disrupt the population.”

Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, partnered with members of the 5th Iraqi Army Division, initiated the operation with a late-night air assault into targeted locations Aug. 13 and conducted an additional three air-assaults during the course of the operation.

Residents of most villages welcomed the security forces, providing tips and intelligence about recent activities in their towns. Many residents also were interested in joining the Iraqi security forces. Following clearing operations, the Iraqi army provided medical assistance and humanitarian aid to the local citizens, many of whom said their villages were recently influenced by al Qaeda.

More importantly, more than 80 tribal leaders and representatives, some of whom had not spoken to one another for more than a year, met Aug. 19 to discuss their grievances and swore on the Quran to unite in their fight against terrorists and become one tribe of Diyala.

“As I conducted my battlefield circulation and talked with many of the citizens, they repeatedly thanked our soldiers, but more importantly, their security forces, for liberating their towns from the terrorists, specifically al Qaeda,” Sutherland said.

“Because their villages have been cleared, the local and central governments will now be able to provide those essential services al Qaeda destroyed, and the people feel a sense of security they have not known for some time,” he added.

Throughout the operation, Task Force Lightning soldiers also discovered 22 improvised explosive devices, 11 of which were discovered based on tips from a police chief in the valley, and disabled booby-trapped houses and six car bombs, all of which could have been used to harm a large portion of the population or security forces.

In addition, an al Qaeda command post was discovered in the village of Shadia, and an al Qaeda medical clinic was located in Qaryat Sunayjiyah.

The command post, which was surrounded by fighting positions, contained bed space for 20 individuals, supply requests, records of munitions, a list of families supporting the element, a list of al Qaeda members detained by coalition forces and other terrorist propaganda.

“Although we didn’t find many of the terrorists, the operation proved to be a great success because we disrupted al Qaeda, causing them to run,” Sutherland said. “Their fear of facing our forces proves that the terrorists know there is no safe haven for them in Diyala.

“And though this specific operation is over, our fight is not over,” he continued. “We will continue to aggressively target al-Qaeda, and ultimately, they will be brought to justice.”

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: frwn; iraq; lightninghammer; oif; phantomstrike; surge; terrorists

1 posted on 08/24/2007 5:26:50 PM PDT by SandRat
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To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
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Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
2 posted on 08/24/2007 5:27:15 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat
Jihadists On The Run Bump

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

3 posted on 08/24/2007 5:30:49 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: devolve; SandRat; ntnychik; PhilDragoo
Get THIS one!


4 posted on 08/24/2007 5:49:03 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
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To: SandRat

5 posted on 08/24/2007 6:05:41 PM PDT by do the dhue (Don't let Jihad Jane do what Hanoi Jane did!!!! SEP 15, 07 Gathering of EAGLES DC)
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To: potlatch

.

Excellent graphic potlatch!


6 posted on 08/24/2007 6:21:44 PM PDT by devolve ( _Google-Illegals_Killed_25_Americans_Each_Day _A_Mex_Illegal_Alien_Sold_911_Terrorists_IDs_)
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To: devolve

Thanks devolve, trying something new.


7 posted on 08/24/2007 6:24:24 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
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To: potlatch

.

Yup!

Very creative!


8 posted on 08/24/2007 6:31:39 PM PDT by devolve ( _Google-Illegals_Killed_25_Americans_Each_Day _A_Mex_Illegal_Alien_Sold_911_Terrorists_IDs_)
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To: devolve

Thanks again!

I now have a shorter, fatter bloodline if you need it and I’m not talking about ancestry, lol!!


9 posted on 08/24/2007 6:35:29 PM PDT by potlatch (MIZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MIKAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_MAZARU_ooo_‹(•¿•)›_ooo_))
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To: SandRat
Couldn't the NYT at least publish this press release on page A16?

Oh, that's right, we don't read the NYT anyway. Never mind.

5.56mm

10 posted on 08/24/2007 6:41:26 PM PDT by M Kehoe
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