Note: The following text is a quote:
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2006/20060705_5584.html
Iraqi Forces Foil Kidnappings, Capture Terrorists
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 5, 2006 – Iraqi soldiers rescued three kidnap victims, foiled a kidnap attempt, captured 28 suspected terrorists, and killed eight terrorists in separate operations July 2 and 3, military officials reported.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, rescued three Red Crescent employees from two terrorist kidnappers shortly before 5 p.m. July 3. The soldiers stopped a black sedan at a checkpoint near the Al-Nida Mosque. The two kidnappers attempted to flee, but were detained a short distance from the checkpoint. During a search of the vehicle, the soldiers found two handguns.
Elsewhere, Iraqi army forces raided a rural farmhouse southwest of Baghdad early July 3, capturing 14 members of an al Qaeda foreign fighter cell and killing a key terrorist facilitator. One Iraqi soldier was killed, and another Iraqi soldier was wounded during the operation.
Iraqi counterterrorist forces conducted the raid in the farming community of Qarabawi, targeting three key leaders of an al Qaeda foreign fighter cell, while coalition advisers observed. The targeted leaders were responsible for the overall financial, logistical and operational aspects of this cell, officials said. Iraqi forces seized AK-47 assault rifles, an MP-5 machine gun, a bolt-action rifle, several grenades, and several magazines of ammunition. A car bomb also was destroyed at the scene.
In another incident July 3, Iraqi army soldiers manning a traffic control point thwarted a kidnapping attempt in Ameriyah. A vehicle carrying the victim attempted to run through a checkpoint manned by soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division. The Iraqi soldiers opened fire on the terrorist's vehicle after it approached the checkpoint at a high speed. The victim was thrown from the vehicle as the terrorists escaped capture.
In a separate operation, soldiers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, and Battery B, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, killed seven terrorists July 2 during a firefight in the Adhamiyah area of eastern Baghdad.
At about 6 p.m., Iraqi soldiers at a traffic control point reported small-arms fire in Antar Square. The U.S. patrol from Battery B was in the area and rendered support. Over the next two hours, terrorists attacked the forces using small-arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades in the areas of Antar Square and Sabah Library. With assistance of combat aviation, the coalition forces were able to subdue the terrorists.
Elsewhere, Iraqi security forces conducted an air assault raid early on July 1 in northern Babil Province, capturing 12 insurgents, including seven cell members from a local terrorist network.
Forces from the Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics unit, or SWAT, assisted by coalition force advisers, raided an objective northwest of Sayafiyah and captured the seven terrorists. All seven of these individuals had warrants issued for their arrest by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, officials said. Five other individuals were also detained during the operation, and the SWAT team seized two AK-47 assault rifles and two Russian made SKS carbine rifles.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq and Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)
ON THE NET...
REWARDS FOR JUSTICE
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/wanted_captured/index.cfm?page=Wanted_Terrorist
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/images/abu_alMasri.jpg
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/wanted_captured/index.cfm?page=masri
"Wanted
Abu Ayyub al-Masri
Up to $5 Million Reward"
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2006/20060705_5588.html
New al Qaeda Leader Likely to Boost Mobile Bomb Usage
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 5, 2006 – The new al Qaeda in Iraq leader is an explosives expert who could opt to increase insurgent attacks using car and truck bombs, a senior U.S. military officer said in Baghdad today.
Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, told reporters that it would be prudent to expect a rise in attacks with such devices in light of Egyptian Abu Ayyub al-Masri's reputation.
Masri's predecessor as the head of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed June 7 during a U.S. aerial bombing raid.
Caldwell said security is being stiffened at Baghdad traffic checkpoints, which are among the key targets for attacks with car bombs. "Checkpoints continue to be modified, moved around the city," Caldwell said. However, he acknowledged, vehicle-borne attacks like the July 1 explosion that killed more than 60 Iraqis in a Baghdad marketplace can still occur.
"But, we're making every effort, along with our Iraqi security forces, to stop that," Caldwell said, noting Iraqi soldiers and police are getting much better at preempting and disrupting terrorist activities.
Caldwell highlighted a recent incident in which Iraqi forces stopped an insurgent vehicle at a Baghdad traffic checkpoint and rescued three kidnapping victims who were held inside.
"The two kidnappers attempted to escape, but were picked up shortly thereafter by Iraqi security forces," Caldwell recalled. "This is one of the first things you start seeing when you see the positive results of all these different checkpoints operating throughout the city."
In addition, U.S., coalition and Iraqi security forces continue to put pressure on insurgents, Caldwell said, noting that June was "a pretty active month."
He also noted that about 420 foreign fighters are currently being detained in Iraq. Most are from Egypt and Syria, with others hailing from Sudan and Saudi Arabia.
Caldwell also commented on the U.S.-conducted criminal investigations involving a small number of American servicemembers who've been accused of committing high crimes against Iraqi citizens, including murder.
"Clearly we've got four cases that we're investigating very thoroughly here right now," Caldwell said, "but they are not at all indicative of the great performance of the men and women that are serving in the armed forces of the United States."
Caldwell confirmed that one of the cases involves former Army Pfc. Steven D. Green, who was arrested June 30 in North Carolina and faces federal rape and murder charges.
Related Site:
Multinational Force Iraq
