Thread: Operation Iraqi Freedom/Multi-National Force

Rocketman and assistant captured during Marne Avalanche

By 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division
Jul 19, 2007 - 5:00:59 PM

Blackanthem Military News, KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi soldiers and U.S. paratroopers captured the ringleader of a cell responsible for conducting rocket attacks on the people and security forces of North Babil, July 18.


A Paratrooper with Company B, 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division unloads ammunition from an AK-47 assault rifle captured during a raid against the leader of a rocket cell in Tounis. (Photo by Sgt. Ernest Henry)

Blackanthem Military News, KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi soldiers and U.S. paratroopers captured the ringleader of a cell responsible for conducting rocket attacks on the people and security forces of North Babil, July 18.

Soldiers of the 8th Iraqi Army Division and Paratroopers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, conducted an air assault and joint raid as a part of the ongoing Operation Marne Avalanche and captured the rocket cell leader and another member of his team.

The joint force also captured nearly 130,000 Iraqi dinar, six AK-47 assault rifles with 16 loaded magazines, an Uzi submachine gun with two loaded magazines, a bolt-action sniper rifle with 95 rounds, a 9mm pistol with magazines loaded with hollow point ammunition, and a Gladius.

“Operations like this let everyone know that we are in the area and that we mean business,” said Spc. Alexander Crown, a Paratrooper with the battalion's scout platoon.

Soldiers detained the cell members for further questioning.


An Iraqi soldier searches an alleyway during a raid against the leader of a rocket cell in Tounis. (Photo by Sgt. Ernest Henry)


Rocketman and assistant captured during Marne Avalanche

Iraqi informants lead U.S. Soldiers to weapons, IED caches

By 2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) PAO
Jul 19, 2007 - 6:13:55 PM

Blackanthem Military News, RUSHDI MULLAH, Iraq — Iraqi informants led Coalition Forces to three massive caches north of Rushdi Mullah, Iraq, July 18.


1st Lt. Norm O'neil, a platoon leader with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., sorts through the contents of three caches that were found north of Rushdi Mullah, Iraq, July 18. An Iraqi informant led Coalition Forces to the cache sites. (U.S. Army photo)

Accompanying the informants were Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., who helped seize the caches just 20 miles south of Baghdad.

“Over the last several weeks, the number of Iraqis who have been sharing tips with us is astounding,” said Maj. Web Wright, a spokesperson for the 2nd BCT. “There has been a turning of the tides against al Qaeda in this area. The people are tired of them and are turning their backs on AQI.”

All three caches were found buried in 55-gallon drums within 100 meters of one another.


Pictured are the contents of the three caches discovered north of Rushdi Mullah after an Iraqi informant led Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., to the cache sites. (U.S. Army photo)


The contents of the caches included 13 rocket propelled grenades, 150 bags of Russian mortar propellant charges, two 57mm mortar rockets, an armor-piercing rocket propelled grenade, four cylindrical explosive charges, two square explosive charges, two hand-launched star cluster flares, a Russian fragmentary hand grenade, 25 mortar propellant charges, 100 12.7mm DiSHKA heavy machine gun rounds, 20 25mm rounds, a 75-rounds Ak-47 ammunition drum, three sniper rifle scopes, two mortar sights, 10 cell phone chargers, five radios, a pressure plate, a machine gun lower receiver, two 7.62mm machine gun barrels, two bottles of glucose, four vehicle cell phone chargers, an improvised explosive device command wire initiator, a hands-free telephone headset, an eight-battery holder, four cell phone batteries, a 4.8 voltage rechargeable battery, a seven-piece antennae, two flip-open cell phones, four Motorola talk-abouts, a cordless phone, a cordless phone base, a toy cell phone IED initiator, two phone cords, an antennae extension, two keyless-entry devices with IED initiator switches, two magnets, two circuit boards and various nuts and bolts.

The radio and cell phone accessories are commonly used to detonate IEDs.

The ordnance was destroyed by an explosive ordnance disposal team.

Iraqi informants lead U.S. Soldiers to weapons, IED caches

One insurgent killed, 9 others detained in Baghdad raid

Friday, 20 July 2007
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070720-11
July 20, 2007

One insurgent killed, 9 others detained in Baghdad raid
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces and Coalition Forces killed one al-Qaeda insurgent and detained nine others suspected of insurgent activities during an early morning intelligence driven raid in western Baghdad, July 19

Iraqi and Coalition Forces received enemy-fire while conducting their raid on a local residence. Iraqi forces killed the insurgent and carried out the mission.

Iraqi and Coalition Forces also detained nine individuals who were at the objective location.

The primary targets of this operation are alleged to be responsible for conducting small-arms fire and improvised explosive device attacks on Coalition Forces and local Iraqi civilians in the western Baghdad area. They are also believed to be responsible for the kidnapping and execution of two Iraqi Soldiers.

No Iraqi or Coalition Forces were injured during this operation.

Multi-National Force - Iraq - One insurgent killed, 9 others detained in Baghdad raid

Weapons stockpiles destroyed near Iranian border

Friday, 20 July 2007
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070720-01
July 19, 2007

Weapons stockpiles destroyed near Iranian border
214th Fires Brigade
Multi-National Division – Center PAO


FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq — Iraqi border guards led Coalition Forces to two weapons stockpiles near the Iranian border, a sign they are taking steps to secure their nation.

Iraqi border guards from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Region Department of Border Enforcement led members of U.S. Border Transition Team 4321, known as Team Nomad, to a stockpile of 35, 122mm rounds July 13, during a patrol in Dehnuk, Iraq, near the Iranian border.

The weapons were staged to be sold or moved to insurgents, according to Col. Mark Mueller, team leader for BTT 4300. Weapons are often collected at one location and then smuggled into al Kut, he said.

The Iraqi border guards led Team Nomad to a second weapon stockpile July 14 along the Iraq/Iranian border.

The stockpile consisted of six 122mm rounds, five RPG-7 grenades, 10 81mm mortar rounds, and six 60mm mortar rounds.

All of the weapons are believed to be leftover from the Iran and Iraq War and were destroyed during control detonations by the Khazakstani Explosive Ordnance Team, Coalition partners also serving at FOB Delta.

BTT 4321, from Fort Riley, Kan., is part of Task Force Shocker based at FOB Delta.

Multi-National Force - Iraq - Weapons stockpiles destroyed near Iranian border

Coalition Forces Capture High Value Terrorist with Ties to IRGC-QF

Friday, 20 July 2007
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Multi-National Force - Iraq
703.343.8790

July 20, 2007
Release A070720a

Coalition Forces Capture High Value Terrorist with Ties to IRGC-QF

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured a suspected terrorist with close ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) in a raid Thursday in Kharnabat near Baqubah.

No shots were fired when Coalition Forces conducted a raid to capture or kill a highly-sought operative with connections to senior leaders of the IRGC-QF. The captured terrorist is suspected of facilitating the transport of weapons and personnel from Iran into Iraq. The captured terrorist is also believed to have facilitated the flow of deadly Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs) into Iraq from Iran to be used against Coalition Forces.

During the raid, Coalition Forces confiscated a large sum of U.S. currency, weapons and photographs of juveniles with weapons.

“Coalition troops continue to conduct successful raids to capture terrorists who bring EFPs and other lethal aid into Iraq,” said Maj. Marc Young, MNF-I spokesperson. “We remain committed to dismantling terror networks that seek to kill innocent Iraqis and Coalition Forces.”

Multi-National Force - Iraq - Coalition Forces Capture High Value Terrorist with Ties to IRGC-QF

MND-B aircrews kill three insurgents


Friday, 20 July 2007
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070720-05
July 20, 2007

MND-B aircrews kill three insurgents
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO


CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division - Baghdad attack helicopter crews killed three insurgents who were transporting weapons from a mosque and destroyed two enemy vehicles west of Baghdad at approximately 10:30 a.m.
July 18.

The Apache crews from 4th “Guns” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, were called in after receiving reports of insurgents carrying weapons outside of a mosque.

The Apache crews observed insurgents putting weapons into a cargo truck. The pilots engaged the vehicle as it was traveling, destroying the vehicle and killing three insurgents.

The aircrews also observed an armed insurgent get into a silver sedan. Once the insurgent left the vehicle, the aircrews received clearance from the ground unit to engage the vehicle and destroyed it.

Multi-National Force - Iraq - MND-B aircrews kill three insurgents

3 terrorists killed, 44 suspects detained in Coalition operations


Friday, 20 July 2007
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Multi-National Force - Iraq
703.343.8790

July 20, 2007
Release A070720b

3 terrorists killed, 44 suspects detained in Coalition operations

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained 44 suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq Friday targeting terrorist leaders and their operational cells.

Coalition Forces conducted a broad operation south of Baghdad, raiding 10 buildings in search of a terrorist who is reportedly a Shari’a judge and cell leader for al-Qaeda in Iraq. As the ground force approached the first target, a Coalition security team saw two armed men taking up tactical positions against the force. Coalition Forces, reacting appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged the two armed men, killing them.

As Coalition Forces secured the series of buildings, they detained 16 suspected terrorists who are believed to have ties to the targeted individual.

Coalition Forces raided five buildings in the city during a raid targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader there. As the ground force cleared the buildings, one man armed with an automatic weapon attempted to maneuver into a position to assault the force. Coalition Forces, reacting appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged the man, killing him.

The ground force detained 10 suspected terrorists on the scene for their alleged involvement with the al-Qaeda in Iraq cell.

Also in Baghdad, Coalition Forces targeted and captured two suspected terrorists allegedly involved in terrorist media operations. Intelligence reports indicate the two individuals work with media cells in Baghdad and Baqubah. Two additional suspects were detained during the raid.

Coalition Forces captured a suspected bombing cell member in Baghdad. The individual is allegedly part of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network operating in the capital city.

Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq financial emir and four of his associates during a raid east of Ramadi. Intelligence reports indicate the targeted individual is also a close associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq emir and recently returned from Syria, where he allegedly facilitated the supply of weapons to terrorists in Iraq.

In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained eight suspected terrorists during three coordinated raids targeting the al-Qaeda emir of Mosul, who is also believed to be the al-Qaeda in Iraq deputy emir of northern Iraq.

“Our forces continue to strike terrorists wherever they hide,” said Maj. Marc Young, an MNF-I spokesperson. “We’re seeking to eliminate the terrorists who conduct indiscriminate attacks against innocent Iraqi civilians.”

Multi-National Force - Iraq - 3 terrorists killed, 44 suspects detained in Coalition operations

3rd HBCT nabs top insurgent


Friday, 20 July 2007
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070720-17
July 20, 2007

3rd HBCT nabs top insurgent
Multi-National Division – Center PAO


BAGHDAD — Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment detained one of the Multi-National Division-Center’s most wanted insurgents, along with four other individuals early Friday morning near Jisr Diyala.

Leaders from 3-1 Cav. gained intelligence early Friday morning that the known insurgent and a number of his associates were within their area of operations.

Soldiers conducted a surprise raid and captured the individual with no U.S. forces injuries or damage to equipment, by surrounding the house following a 2-mile walk into the suspected insurgent’s neighborhood. It was well-known to the Soldiers that the individual was on the look out for Army aircraft and would move if he heard helicopters approaching.

The detained “high-value individual” is believed to be responsible for the recent increase in explosively formed projectile improvised explosive devices and indirect fire attacks against Coalition Forces east of Baghdad. He is also suspected of intimidating Iraqis that work with U.S. forces, as well as, kidnapping and murdering rivals of his cell.

In addition to his terrorist activities, the detainee is a member of an organized crime network in the Mada’in Qada, which is part of the Baghdad province. Coalition Forces believe the detainee has extorted the local population through his water distribution company and gas station enterprises.

The 3-1 Cav. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team and is from Fort Benning, Ga. The unit deployed to Iraq in March 2007.

Multi-National Force - Iraq - 3rd HBCT nabs top insurgent

18 suspected terrorists detained near Baghdad mosque


Saturday, 21 July 2007
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Multi-National Force - Iraq
703.343.8790

July 21, 2007
Release A070721b

18 suspected terrorists detained near Baghdad mosque

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition Forces detained 18 suspected terrorists during an operation Saturday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives near the Um al-Qura mosque in the Kadhimiyah neighborhood in Baghdad.

In a pre-dawn operation based on credible intelligence, Iraqi and Coalition Forces arrived at the Um al-Qura mosque complex to capture a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq member believed to be operating a terrorist media cell. The Iraqi and Coalition Forces negotiated with gate guards, who allowed the ground forces access to the compound. Some guards told Iraqi and Coalition Forces they thought the ground forces had arrived because of all the al-Qaeda members in the compound.

Neither Iraqi nor Coalition Forces entered the mosque itself.

The ground forces surrounded several outer buildings in the compound and secured them, capturing the targeted individual and 17 other suspected terrorists. During the operation, Iraqi and Coalition Forces found extremist propaganda and media materials.

“We do not enter mosques for the sole purpose of disrupting terrorist activities or conducting a show of force. Mosque entries occur only as a last resort, and only when substantial and credible evidence shows terrorist activity is occurring there, like the harboring of terrorist leaders. In this case, we didn’t need to enter the mosque itself,” said Maj. Marc Young, an MNF-I spokesperson. “Coalition Forces have great respect for Muslim religious sites and take extensive measures to treat those sites with care.”

Multi-National Force - Iraq - 18 suspected terrorists detained near Baghdad mosque

Coalition Forces detain 14


Saturday, 21 July 2007
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Multi-National Force - Iraq
703.343.8790

July 21, 2007
Release A070721a

Coalition Forces detain 14

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 14 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq networks in central and western Iraq Saturday.

North of Taji, Coalition Forces captured a suspected terrorist and three of his associates believed to facilitate the movement of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders.

During coordinated raids north of Fallujah, Coalition Forces detained five individuals allegedly tied to a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq figure in the Ramadi area who has orchestrated suicide and conventional attacks.

Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists northeast of Balad during a raid targeting operatives in a Samarra-area network facilitating the movement of foreigners who participate in terrorist attacks.

“We will not stop targeting the terrorists who seek to disrupt the future the Iraqi people have chosen for their country,” said Maj. Marc Young, an MNF-I spokesperson.

Multi-National Force - Iraq - Coalition Forces detain 14