Dear Friends and Family,
Extremists continue to be captured, as well as weapon caches, thanks to the heroism of the Concerned Local Citizens (CLCs) of Iraq. The last story is a reminder that freedom isn't free, but always worth the price. What is the alternative?
Joanna
Extremists continue to be captured, as well as weapon caches, thanks to the heroism of the Concerned Local Citizens (CLCs) of Iraq. The last story is a reminder that freedom isn't free, but always worth the price. What is the alternative?
Joanna
________________
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
January 7, 2008
BAGHDAD - 2 Apache helicopter air strikes killed 3 suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq extremists near Maderiyah during Op Marne Thunderbolt on the night of Jan. 4 and the morning of Jan. 5. In the first strike Jan. 4, Soldiers from Batt B, 1st Bn, 9th FAR, 2nd BCT, 3rd ID, saw 2 suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq members digging and emplacing weapons caches in a canal. Batt B called for air support from 1st Bn, 3rd Aviation Regt, 3rd CAB. When the extremists heard the Apaches overhead, they fled to a nearby building. The helicopters engaged the extremists with machine guns. A recon of the area confirmed both extremists were killed. The following day, Soldiers reported another man digging in numerous spots in the same area on the canal. The man was identified as an extremist and was engaged by Apache helicopters. Hellfire missiles were fired, into the area where the extremist was digging, to destroy any possible caches or explosives buried beneath the ground. The missiles produced secondary explosions confirming that munitions were emplaced there.
By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.FOB HAMMER - Concerned Local Citizens (CLCs) in Sabbah Nissan, a village southeast of Baghdad, turned in 123 20 mm rounds to Soldiers of Batt A, 1st Bn, 10th FAR, when they visited the CLCs headquarters Dec. 31. This was the fourth cache the CLC group has handed over to Battery A in the past 2 weeks. "The CLCs have been very focused on finding these caches and bringing them to us," said Capt. Chas Cannon, com. of Batt A. "We are very pleased with the success they are having getting these weapons out of the hands of insurgents attempting to operate in this area."
By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.BAGHDAD - On Jan. 1 CLCs in Tuwaitha, a village southeast of Baghdad, discovered one of the largest weapons caches since the 3rd HBCT deployed to the Mada'in Qada 9 months ago. The cache consisted of 2 5-gallon jugs of homemade explosives, 7 85 mm rockets, a 73 mm rocket, 10 82 mm mortar rounds, 2 57 mm mortar rounds, 2 60 mm mortar rounds, 2 rocket-propelled grenade launchers and 2 40 mm explosive projectiles. "Every time a CLC brings in ordnance it saves Soldiers' lives," said Maj. Desmond Bailey, the ops officer for 3-1st Cav. Regt. "This demonstrates that more Iraqis are on the side of peace." Last fall, Co D conducted Op Tuwaitha Sunrise, which partnered the unit with CLCs in an effort to drive insurgents from the area. "The CLCs program is highly successful, which is clearly evident based on the amount of ordnance discovered by the Tuwaitha CLCs," said 1st Lt. Timothy Eng, an engineer in HQ Troop, 3-1st Cav. Regt.
FOB KALSU - A suspected distributor of car bombs and a weapons trafficker for al-Qaeda in Iraq was captured 25 miles south of Baghdad Jan. 1. The detainee is the 4th BCT, 3rd ID's No. 1 most wanted individual. Prior to the raid, Soldiers from Co B, 2nd Bn, 502nd Inf, part of Task Force 1-76 out of FOB Kalsu, watched the target for hours with a Predator drone and OH-58D Kiowa observation helicopters. Shortly after the individual stopped at his house, Soldiers from Co. B boarded helicopters and landed in a field next to the house. Within minutes, the target was in custody.
By Staff Sgt. Sean Riley
3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
FOB HAMMER - Multiple weapons caches were seized and destroyed by the 3rd HBCT, 3rd ID throughout the Mada'in Qada Jan. 2. Soldiers of Co A, 1st Bn, 15th Inf Regt, secured a cache found by CLCs in the Al Bawi area of the Mada'in Qada. The Mada'in Qada is a portion of the Baghdad province and is home to almost 900,000 Iraqis. In a separate incident, the CLCs of Al Zatia informed Batt A, 1st Bn, 10th FAR Soldiers of a cache. In Jisr Diyala, an Iraqi citizen provided a tip to Iraqi SF at the Joint Security Site that led to the discovery of a cache near Al Arifiyah. "The CLCs in the Mada'in Qada continue to provide us with IED-making material on a daily basis," said Maj. Dave Fivecoat, the 3rd HBCT ops officer.
MUQDADIYAH - Iraqi Police discovered a weapons cache after receiving a tip from local citizens in Muqdadiyah Jan. 4. Thirteen mortars of various sizes, including 2 60 mm mortars, several rockets, ammo of different calibers, an anti-tank mine, initiators, propellants and other bomb-making materials were confiscated. The cache was found in a suspected extremist's home. Several makeshift attack, observation and sniper positions were found littered with shell casings. Upon further investigation of the area, several barrels were unearthed revealing more ammo and a machine gun. Soldiers of the 293rd MP Co, 728th MP Bn, 18th MP Bde, 3rd ID assisted the IPs in finding the cache and conducting searches of the area. "The mission today was a definite success," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Swilling, a squad leader in the 293rd MP Co. "We took these weapons off the street with no casualties. These (Iraqi) SWAT guys are well trained and are very proficient at performing raids and moving tactically."
(L) Iraqi Police SWAT members find a variety of weapons. (R) Iraqi and U.S. MP found an assortment of weaponry.
BAGHDAD - Key leaders from the Iraqi Army and the local volunteer security force in Baghdad's Adhamiyah neighborhood held a summit Jan. 3 to discuss the way forward. At the meeting, IA and ISV leaders were able to form a stronger relationship and resolve their differences, said Maj. Ike Sallee, ops officer, 3rd Sqdrn, 7th Cav Regt, the U.S. unit who operates in the area. "I think overall it was very positive," said Sallee. "Their relationship is stronger than ever." Sallee said the meeting was called in partnership to bring unity among the groups. The relationship between the ISV and the IA remains strong. Contrary to recent media reporting, no ISVs receive severance pay and all remain on the job. "What's encouraging is that, a few hours after an elevation of differences, the IA and the ISV were back out at joint checkpoints together," Sallee said. "The important thing is that every body is working towards the same goal - safety and security in Adhamiyah," he said.
BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest after being subdued by 3 heroic Iraqi Army Soldiers outside the neighborhood advisory council building killing all 3 soldiers and 2 civilian bystanders in the Karadah district Jan. 6. "The selfless sacrifice of the 3 Iraqi soldiers should not be forgotten. These martyrs gave their lives so that others might live," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman for Multi-National Div-Baghdad. "The valor and devotion to the mission displayed by these 3 Iraqi soldiers embodies the character of the Iraqi Army, especially on the Iraqi Army Day."
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
January 7, 2008
BAGHDAD - 2 Apache helicopter air strikes killed 3 suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq extremists near Maderiyah during Op Marne Thunderbolt on the night of Jan. 4 and the morning of Jan. 5. In the first strike Jan. 4, Soldiers from Batt B, 1st Bn, 9th FAR, 2nd BCT, 3rd ID, saw 2 suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq members digging and emplacing weapons caches in a canal. Batt B called for air support from 1st Bn, 3rd Aviation Regt, 3rd CAB. When the extremists heard the Apaches overhead, they fled to a nearby building. The helicopters engaged the extremists with machine guns. A recon of the area confirmed both extremists were killed. The following day, Soldiers reported another man digging in numerous spots in the same area on the canal. The man was identified as an extremist and was engaged by Apache helicopters. Hellfire missiles were fired, into the area where the extremist was digging, to destroy any possible caches or explosives buried beneath the ground. The missiles produced secondary explosions confirming that munitions were emplaced there.
By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.FOB HAMMER - Concerned Local Citizens (CLCs) in Sabbah Nissan, a village southeast of Baghdad, turned in 123 20 mm rounds to Soldiers of Batt A, 1st Bn, 10th FAR, when they visited the CLCs headquarters Dec. 31. This was the fourth cache the CLC group has handed over to Battery A in the past 2 weeks. "The CLCs have been very focused on finding these caches and bringing them to us," said Capt. Chas Cannon, com. of Batt A. "We are very pleased with the success they are having getting these weapons out of the hands of insurgents attempting to operate in this area."
By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.BAGHDAD - On Jan. 1 CLCs in Tuwaitha, a village southeast of Baghdad, discovered one of the largest weapons caches since the 3rd HBCT deployed to the Mada'in Qada 9 months ago. The cache consisted of 2 5-gallon jugs of homemade explosives, 7 85 mm rockets, a 73 mm rocket, 10 82 mm mortar rounds, 2 57 mm mortar rounds, 2 60 mm mortar rounds, 2 rocket-propelled grenade launchers and 2 40 mm explosive projectiles. "Every time a CLC brings in ordnance it saves Soldiers' lives," said Maj. Desmond Bailey, the ops officer for 3-1st Cav. Regt. "This demonstrates that more Iraqis are on the side of peace." Last fall, Co D conducted Op Tuwaitha Sunrise, which partnered the unit with CLCs in an effort to drive insurgents from the area. "The CLCs program is highly successful, which is clearly evident based on the amount of ordnance discovered by the Tuwaitha CLCs," said 1st Lt. Timothy Eng, an engineer in HQ Troop, 3-1st Cav. Regt.
FOB KALSU - A suspected distributor of car bombs and a weapons trafficker for al-Qaeda in Iraq was captured 25 miles south of Baghdad Jan. 1. The detainee is the 4th BCT, 3rd ID's No. 1 most wanted individual. Prior to the raid, Soldiers from Co B, 2nd Bn, 502nd Inf, part of Task Force 1-76 out of FOB Kalsu, watched the target for hours with a Predator drone and OH-58D Kiowa observation helicopters. Shortly after the individual stopped at his house, Soldiers from Co. B boarded helicopters and landed in a field next to the house. Within minutes, the target was in custody.
By Staff Sgt. Sean Riley
3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
FOB HAMMER - Multiple weapons caches were seized and destroyed by the 3rd HBCT, 3rd ID throughout the Mada'in Qada Jan. 2. Soldiers of Co A, 1st Bn, 15th Inf Regt, secured a cache found by CLCs in the Al Bawi area of the Mada'in Qada. The Mada'in Qada is a portion of the Baghdad province and is home to almost 900,000 Iraqis. In a separate incident, the CLCs of Al Zatia informed Batt A, 1st Bn, 10th FAR Soldiers of a cache. In Jisr Diyala, an Iraqi citizen provided a tip to Iraqi SF at the Joint Security Site that led to the discovery of a cache near Al Arifiyah. "The CLCs in the Mada'in Qada continue to provide us with IED-making material on a daily basis," said Maj. Dave Fivecoat, the 3rd HBCT ops officer.
MUQDADIYAH - Iraqi Police discovered a weapons cache after receiving a tip from local citizens in Muqdadiyah Jan. 4. Thirteen mortars of various sizes, including 2 60 mm mortars, several rockets, ammo of different calibers, an anti-tank mine, initiators, propellants and other bomb-making materials were confiscated. The cache was found in a suspected extremist's home. Several makeshift attack, observation and sniper positions were found littered with shell casings. Upon further investigation of the area, several barrels were unearthed revealing more ammo and a machine gun. Soldiers of the 293rd MP Co, 728th MP Bn, 18th MP Bde, 3rd ID assisted the IPs in finding the cache and conducting searches of the area. "The mission today was a definite success," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Swilling, a squad leader in the 293rd MP Co. "We took these weapons off the street with no casualties. These (Iraqi) SWAT guys are well trained and are very proficient at performing raids and moving tactically."
(L) Iraqi Police SWAT members find a variety of weapons. (R) Iraqi and U.S. MP found an assortment of weaponry.
BAGHDAD - Key leaders from the Iraqi Army and the local volunteer security force in Baghdad's Adhamiyah neighborhood held a summit Jan. 3 to discuss the way forward. At the meeting, IA and ISV leaders were able to form a stronger relationship and resolve their differences, said Maj. Ike Sallee, ops officer, 3rd Sqdrn, 7th Cav Regt, the U.S. unit who operates in the area. "I think overall it was very positive," said Sallee. "Their relationship is stronger than ever." Sallee said the meeting was called in partnership to bring unity among the groups. The relationship between the ISV and the IA remains strong. Contrary to recent media reporting, no ISVs receive severance pay and all remain on the job. "What's encouraging is that, a few hours after an elevation of differences, the IA and the ISV were back out at joint checkpoints together," Sallee said. "The important thing is that every body is working towards the same goal - safety and security in Adhamiyah," he said.
BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest after being subdued by 3 heroic Iraqi Army Soldiers outside the neighborhood advisory council building killing all 3 soldiers and 2 civilian bystanders in the Karadah district Jan. 6. "The selfless sacrifice of the 3 Iraqi soldiers should not be forgotten. These martyrs gave their lives so that others might live," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman for Multi-National Div-Baghdad. "The valor and devotion to the mission displayed by these 3 Iraqi soldiers embodies the character of the Iraqi Army, especially on the Iraqi Army Day."