Friday, May 11, 2007

Air Strike Kills Terrorists; Bomb-Making Material Seized in Raids

American Forces Press Service

May 10, 2007 – A coalition air strike killed three
terrorists today in the Sadr City section of Baghdad, and coalition troops in western Iraq killed a terrorist and seized material that could be used to construct chemical bombs. The terrorists killed in the Sadr City air strike were suspected of belonging to a network that assists in the transport of weapons and high-yield explosives from Iran into Iraq, officials said. Intelligence reports also indicate the secret cell has ties to a kidnapping network that conducts attacks within Iraq.

In a separate operation today, coalition forces detained two individuals for suspected ties to smuggling activities supporting al Qaeda in Iraq.

"Coalition forces strike at the
terrorists where they hide, not waiting for them to inflict violence on the Iraqi people," said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "The Iraqi people continue to reject the methods of the terrorists and choose instead a stable, peaceful Iraq."

During coalition-conducted raids in Anbar province early today, troops targeted a chemical bomb network and suspected smuggling operations, officials said. One
terrorist was killed, and two suspected terrorists were detained during operations north of Karmah that targeted a car-bomb network that uses chlorine in its attacks.

"As long as the al Qaeda network plans and executes deadly attacks against Iraqis and those trying to protect them, we will seek them out and disrupt their activities," Garver said.

In other news, Iraqi soldiers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th
Army Division, foiled an insurgent attack yesterday on the al Numan hospital in Baghdad's Adhamiyah district, officials said.

The joint security station in Adhamiyah was tipped off to the attack and notified Iraqi soldiers near the hospital, who responded to the threat. One insurgent was killed and another wounded during the engagement, while the Iraqi troops suffered three wounded. An AK-47, three magazines, a hand grenade, and a 60 mm mortar round rigged to explode with a hand-grenade fuse were found behind the hospital. The insurgents were attempting to emplace at least one bomb in the hospital, officials believe. Meanwhile, U.S. troops discovered two car bombs in Baghdad's Rashid district during a search operation yesterday.

Members of the Fort Riley, Kan.-based Company B, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment "Black Lions," and the 3rd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, found the vehicles while investigating information that Iraqi citizens gave to them and their Iraqi national
police counterparts.

The same day soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment "Tomahawks" halted a vehicle while investigating a tip about a suspicious car. An explosive ordnance disposal team blew up the vehicle after confirming it was a car bomb.

"When citizens provide important tips like these, it sends a powerful message to those criminals responsible," said
Army Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, the 1st Infantry Division's 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander. "The message is that the Iraqi people are not going to tolerate the violence these extremists bring to Rashid's neighborhoods and residential areas. We're grateful for their assistance in preventing any further bloodshed from occurring today."

Elsewhere, U.S. paratroopers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, detained three suspected insurgents southwest of Mahmudiyah on May 8, according to officials.

The soldiers were searching for a weapons cache when they spotted about 20 men carrying automatic weapons. The men fled as the paratroopers approached. The paratroopers stopped three men who tried to escape in a black sedan. A search of the vehicle yielded an AK-47 rifle, a 9 mm submachine gun, and an ammunition vest. The paratroopers detained the suspects for further questioning.

In other Iraq news, U.S. forces found a weapons cache southwest of the Baghdad airport complex on May 7.

Soldiers assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), from Fort Drum, N.Y., discovered the cache near Radwaniyah while conducting a search-and-attack mission in the area.

The cache yielded 17 60 mm mortar rounds, seven 82 mm mortar rounds, five 105 mm artillery rounds, four 120 mm artillery rounds, five 122 mm artillery rounds, and 27 mortar fuses. The rounds were configured for both indirect fire and for use as improvised explosive devices.

The owner of the property where the cache was located was detained for questioning. An explosive ordnance team destroyed the ordnance.

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