Dear Interested Reader,
Our stories detail the remarkable progress being made in Iraq. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aside from overseeing reconstruction projects, are also taking on a benefactor role for needy Iraqis, and asking for your help. High profile and a large number of AQI terrorists are detained, as well as other criminals, while multiple weapons and munition caches continue to be seized.
Joanna
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
July 29, 2008
USACE Personnel Distribute Items to Needy Iraqis, Donations Being Accepted
By Norris Jones
MUTHANNA PROVINCE — Because of the generosity of individuals and groups in America, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is doing more than just overseeing the construction of essential service projects in Iraq.
“We’re going out in the community distributing donated clothing and toys to some very grateful Iraqi families,” said Sgt. Danielle Colson, the NCOIC of Gulf Region Div. South District’s supply office. “Our goal is to make a trip each month to villages in southern Iraq. “It touches your heart when you’re out there seeing their smiles,” said Colson. “We sincerely appreciate those who have already responded and encourage others to consider joining this special effort.”
Colson and 3 other GRS HQ personnel visited a 4-classroom rural elementary school in Muthanna Province, July 27. Hilal Al Bajari School Headmaster Salem Jaheel said, “The gifts mean a lot to our students. This is a special day. You have made them very happy.”
He said he is working with the Muthanna PRT to get funding to expand his school that currently has more than 100 students attending grades 1-6. The headmaster has a personal investment there as he used his own funds to build the facility 4 years ago.
Those interested in supporting the effort are asked to mail clothes and shoes (any size), and toys for all ages to the following address: USACE GRS, Toys/Donation Closet, COB Adder, Tallil, Iraq AE 09331.
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ISF, MND-B Soldiers seize multiple caches in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Iraqi SF and MND - Baghdad Soldiers uncovered multiple weapons caches in the Baghdad area, July 27, consisting of two machine guns, a RPG, 2 RPG rounds, 3 RPG fuses, 7.62 mm ammo, machinegun round links, and 2 107 mm rockets in the Kadamiyah district of Baghdad, after receiving a tip from a local citizen.
The seized munitions are part of MND-B's ongoing Op Tempest. Since May 20, ISF and MND-B Soldiers have seized 458 weapons caches consisting of 301EFPs; 367 IEDs; 296 rockets; 514 artillery rounds; 2,656 mortar rounds; 1,086 RPGs and 5,596 rifles.
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More than 50 suspected AQI detained, 4 AQI killed during search operation in Ninewah
MOSUL - Fifty-eight suspected AQI members were detained and 4 members were killed during an intel-driven search op in the Ninewah Province, July 27.
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MND-B Soldiers detain known criminal, find weapons cache
BAGHDAD - July 27, in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, around 1 a.m. in the Abu T'shir neighborhood, Soldiers from the 1st BCT, 4th ID detained the Special Groups criminal known for rocket and roadside bomb attacks against CF.
Nearly 2 hours later, the Soldiers discovered 2 nitrous oxide tanks, a fire extinguisher filled with homemade explosives, an undisclosed amount of 7.62 mm ammo, 2 pressure plates used in roadside bombs and a smoke grenade in the Doura community.
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ISF detain suspected AQI terrorist, discover weapons cache in separate operations
BALAD - July 25, the Muqdadiyah SWAT team detained a suspected AQI cell member in Babylon, around 87 km northeast of Baghdad, in an op to disrupt terrorist activity in Muqdadiyah. The suspect is allegedly a primary logistical facilitator for a cell involved in IED emplacements, sectarian violence and weapons smuggling.
In the other op approx. 89 km northwest of Baghdad, Iraqi NP discovered a weapons cache consisting of about a metric ton of nitric acid, 150 pounds of unknown explosive materials, mortar rounds, projectiles, tank rounds and rockets.
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Blackanthem Military News
Cavalry troops nab cell leader in Ghazaliyah
By Sgt. Matthew Vanderboegh
BAGHDAD - The top al-Qaeda cell leader in the western Baghdad area of Ghazaliyah was brought to justice July 15. MND - Baghdad Soldiers from the "Punisher" Platoon, Troop A, 1st Sqdrn, 75th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT), captured the wanted individual during a night raid in Ghazaliyah.
According the plt leader, 1st Lt. Brandon McConnell, the individual in questioning was successful in eluding capture for some time due to the lack of positive ID. It is believed he is responsible for multiple attacks against local SoI and for an IED attack against CF in May.
"He was the #3 most wanted terrorist in Ghazaliyah, and we knew we had to take this guy out of the fight," said McConnell.
"No one could pin him down," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Martin. "We just couldn't get any positive ID other than a description and a nickname. We recently took over responsibility of a new neighborhood and that is where we ran into our source."
During a routine population engagement, which they often do specifically aimed at meeting with local citizens and getting a feel for how they are living, they encountered a man who was able to give them the real name and home address of the suspect. "He was a guy who just did not want to see any more violence in his neighborhood," said Martin, a squad leader with the plt. "At 0200 on 15 July, we conducted a bloodless raid that caught him completely unaware."
The suspected criminal is currently being held in a detention facility where he is awaiting trial and sentencing.
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ISF, Regulars Battalion Eliminating Special Groups in Aamel
By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
Capt. Drew Conover, cmdr., Company A, checks-in at an SoI checkpoint, July 26, in the Aamel community of the Rashid district in southern Baghdad. Conover credits much of the improved security situation in Aamel to the ongoing efforts of the Iraqi forces, to include the SoI.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Brent Williams.
FOB FALCON — As the security situation across Baghdad continues to show signs of significant improvement, Soldiers of the 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt “Regulars,” 1st BCT, 4th ID, MND – Baghdad, are reaping the benefits from more than 3 months of concentrated efforts to create a lasting security in the Aamel community, located in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad.
In the first 3 months since assuming its mission in early April, the Soldiers have detained 56 criminals and terrorists, to include 17 of Baghdad’s most wanted individuals, and seized approx. 26 weapons caches comprised of automatic rifles, RPGs, IEDs and mortar rounds.
Since July, the co. has captured neither criminal, terrorist, nor weapon, but not from lack of trying, said Capt. Drew Conover, cmdr. He said that in his opinion the enemy is beaten. “In terms of the special groups criminals, they are beat,” he explained. “I think they are absolutely beaten, and the reason I don’t think they can come back is because of the Iraqi SF.” The ISF, working with the support of the GoI, remain very effective in dealing with special groups and AQI, due to the fact that they know Iraqis and know the population, explained Conover.
Another indicator of the end of special groups’ influence in the predominately Shia community is the influx of lower level fighters who are turning to CF and ISF for help, said Conover, who is currently on his third deployment in support of Op Iraqi Freedom. Identifying local community leaders, who are willing to take an active role in providing security for their community, such as the SoI, an Iraqi-led neighborhood watch program, and Iraqi citizens who are willing to take an active role in securing their communities from special groups, is the most important step toward achieving a lasting change, said Conover.
“Security and stability will remain, I am convinced of it,” Conover said. “I am convinced that as a whole Aamel will remain stable and secure. Then the Iraqis can start building for economic success, political success.”
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General Details Security Improvements in Iraq’s Northern Provinces
By Jim Garamone
An Iraqi Soldier flashes the victory sign as he passes the Ballad Ruze city hall in Diyala.
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Seeber.
BAGHDAD — The security situation in Iraq’s northern provinces has improved, but Iraqi and coalition troops will continue to pursue AQI and other criminal groups, the U.S. cmdr. in the region said during a briefing, July 27. Army Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, the cmdr. of MND – North, told reporters that the number of security incidents in his area of ops has dropped from more than 2,600 in June 2007 to 650 in June 2008. The numbers for July 2008 continue to show a reduction.
Hertling said Iraqi cmdrs. will launch a major offensive against al-Qaida and criminal gangs in Diyala province next month. U.S. forces will launch a concurrent offensive – Op Iron Pursuit – against AQI terrorists who are seeking sanctuary in the desert.
The success of the surge in Baghdad forced AQI to move out of the city mostly to the northern provinces of Diyala, Ninewah and Salah ad Din. These areas became the main battlefield as Coalition, and increasingly, Iraqi forces hunted down the terrorists and killed or captured them. The cities are now “reasonably secure,” Hertling said, and the Iraqi and CF can shift focus to hunting down al-Qaida and its allies outside the cities.
Other indicators also point to progress, Hertling said. The number of roadside bombs declined by 50% since February 2008 from 950 to 430. “That’s not to say we still don’t have threats,” the general said. Suicide vest attacks and car bombs remain a problem in Diyala and the city of Mosul. On July 24, a woman wearing a suicide vest killed 8 Iraqis and wounded 30 others in Baquba. Last month another suicide bomber killed Iraqi police and recruits in the city.
The number of Iraqis killed by terrorists wearing suicide vests has been about 250. Car bombs killed a further 1,500. “These are random, violent acts conducted by these violent terrorists and that’s why we are not only continuing to go after those who do these things, but the networks that support them,” he said.
Hertling said much remains to be done in the region. “There will be continued ops as long as the Iraqi people are threatened.”
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Coalition Forces Detain 30 Suspected AQI Terrorists, Remove AQI Hideout
BAGHDAD — CF captured 2 wanted men and detained 28 additional suspected terrorists, while targeting AQI in central and northern parts of the country, July 28.
CF detained 2 wanted men and 5 additional suspects during an op in Abu Ghraib, about 25 km west of Baghdad. One of the men is reportedly an AQI leader who oversees attacks. The other wanted man is allegedly a bomb-maker and emplacer in an AQI attack cell.
Using info from an op Jun. 24, CF in Mosul targeted a man believed to oversee financial ops for AQI in Ninawa province. They detained a suspect, and 7 additional suspects were detained in another op targeting an AQI senior leader.
Tips from local residents helped CF envelop a village southwest of Mosul that is reportedly a hideout for AQI facilitators and smugglers coming in from Syria. 15 suspects were detained.
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