Five Servicemembers Killed in Iraq; Iraqi Forces Take Fight to Enemy

Dec. 22, 2006 – Three Marines, a soldier and a sailor were killed in Iraq, Multinational Forces Iraq officials announced today. Three Marines and one sailor assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 died Thursday from wounds sustained due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province, and a Multinational Division Baghdad soldier was killed west of the Iraqi capital Dec. 22. Another soldier in the same patrol was wounded.

Iraqi forces backed up by coalition advisers took the fight to the enemy in many areas of the country.

Soldiers of the 4th Iraqi Army Division captured a suspected leader of an insurgent cell and detained two other suspects during operations Dec. 21 in Taji. The cell leader is allegedly responsible for coordinating small arms, car bombing and improvised explosive device attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces convoys in the Taji and Tarmiyah areas.

Iraqi special operations forces detained four suspects during operations Dec. 21 in the Rashid area of Baghdad. The four men were part of an al Qaeda in Iraq cell and were responsible for the deaths of Iraqi civilians and security forces in the area. The cell uses improvised explosive devices and coordinated small arms attacks to help facilitate violence in southern Baghdad and threaten the local populace.

Soldiers of the 5th Iraqi Army Division captured two suspected leaders of an al Qaeda in Iraq cell and detained a suspect during operations Dec. 21 east of Baqubah. The cell leaders are allegedly responsible for multiple bombing and small arms attacks against Iraqi civilians and security forces in the area.

They are suspected of being involved in an IED attack on the Mandali courthouse. The cell leaders are also implicated in an assassination attempt against a senior Iraqi police officer.

Iraqi police discovered and dismantled a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device Dec. 21 in Mahmudiyah. The Iraqi police reacted to the car bomb after local residents reported a suspicious vehicle near the market. The police responded, disarming the bomb and dismantling the components to render the bomb safe.

The car bomb was composed of ten 57 mm anti-aircraft artillery rounds wired into the doors and trunk.

An Iraqi teenager died from wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device attack in Haqlaniyah, Dec. 20. The IED exploded underneath the tractor the teenager was driving.

Paratroopers from Troop A, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, found a large amount of bomb-making material while patrolling near Muhammad Al Ali Dec. 21.

The cache consisted of 50 pounds of nitro-cellulose material and two copper plates. The material was secured and taken to an explosive ordnance detachment.

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.