Dear Interested Readers,
There were too many weapons caches stories to report. Other stories such as high level criminals being captured, and the Iraqi Army (IA) looking sharp like our troops took precedence.
Joanna
_____________________________
February 29, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Iraqi SF, U.S. SF detain criminal leader, 2 cell members in separate ops
BAGHDAD - Feb. 28, in Baghdad, an Iraqi Special Ops Forces team detained the alleged deputy company commander of a criminal group of approximately 100 people.
The suspect and his criminal organization are believed to be responsible for mortar and IED attacks against Iraqi and CF. According to intel reports, they are also involved in the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi citizens.
In Fahama, near Baghdad, Iraqi soldiers detained 2 suspected criminal in an op targeting Al Qaeda-in-Iraq activities. The suspects are believed to be active members of a cell facilitating the movement of arms, ammo and equipment for use in attacks. One of the suspects is also a known IED triggerman.
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Sons of Iraq, IA work to reduce insurgent resources
BAGHDAD - Abna al-Iraq, or SoI, in the Zambraniyah region turned a substantial weapons cache over to CF, Feb. 26.
The SOI brought ordnance they discovered near a house to Soldiers of Troop C, 6th Sqdrn, 8th Cav Regt, 4th BCT, 3rd ID and IA Soldiers.
Capt. Chris O'Brian, Troop C cmdr., said the house was in an area where there has been a heavy concentration of insurgent activity. Outside the house, the SOI located 18 155 mm artillery rounds. Further investigation uncovered 2 pressure plate-initiated IEDs and 2 65-pound jugs of unknown bulk explosives.
Ragone said the relationship the 3 groups share improves daily, and their combined efforts create a more stable region, encouraging a continued partnership.
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MND-B Soldiers detain alleged weapons suppliers
BAGHDAD - MND-Baghdad Soldiers detained 2 suspected weapons suppliers, and seized weapons during ongoing ops in the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital, Feb. 26-27.
During a combat patrol in Doura Feb. 26, "Raiders" of Bandit Troop,1st Sqdrn, 4th Cav Regt, 4th BCT, 1st ID., detained a man suspected to be a major weapons trafficker.
Additionally, Co B, 1st Bn, 28th Inf Regt, Task Force Dragon, detained a man suspected of moving weapons into the Jihad and Furat neighborhoods.
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Iraqi Army patrols Mosul
IA Lt. Gen. Tawfiq, cmdr of the Ninevah Ops Command, greets IA Soldiers as he arrives at an IA station IA Lt. Gen. Tawfiq, cmdr of the Ninevah Ops Command, greets IA Soldiers as he arrives at an IA station in Mosul, Feb. 28.
Lt. Col. Christopher Johnson, cmdr. of 1st Bn, greets IA Soldiers. Capt. Alexander Rasmussen follows behind him.
A crowd of Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers, along with Iraqi reporters, gather around Lt. Gen.Tawfiq as he gives a morale-building speech.
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Paratroopers capture senior Special Groups leader
BAGHDAD - MND-Baghdad Soldiers captured a suspected senior leader of a criminal Special Groups network during an op in Baghdad's Beida neighborhood, Feb. 27.
After receiving actionable intel on his whereabouts, paratroopers with the 2nd Bn, 325th AIR, 2nd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, detained the suspect.
The suspect is accused of being a key facilitator in the procurement and movement of weapons in northeast Baghdad, as well as being involved in the kidnapping, torture and death of Iraqi citizens who did not adhere to his beliefs.
"The honorable Iraqis in the surrounding neighborhoods are tired of those who choose to disobey the cease-fire directives from al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr, and are determined to rid themselves of these criminals," said Maj. Trey Rutherford, exec. officer for the 2nd Bn. "The loss of yet another senior Special Groups leader places
additional stress on the criminal Special Groups network," he said. "The network is cornered in Sadr City, and every member of the criminal group who sets foot outside is being captured rapidly. The network's armament caches are being discovered and destroyed. Even more importantly, the Special Groups element is being recognized by locals for what it is--a criminal force focused on instilling fear, for monetary profit, in the people they claim to protect."
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