U.S., Iraqi Forces Seize Rocket-Delivery System in Baghdad Raid

American Forces Press Service

Dec. 26, 2008 - American and Iraqi security forces found and seized a rocket-rail system during a combined operation conducted in Baghdad's Rashid district Dec. 25. U.S. 4th Infantry Division soldiers and Iraqi police discovered the rocket-delivery system while performing a security sweep in the district's Abu T'shir community, a U.S. military official said.

"Combined operations account for many significant finds in the Rashid district," said Army Maj. Dave Olson, a spokesman for the division's 1st Brigade Combat Team. "The 1st 'Raider' Brigade continues to teach, coach and mentor the ISF as they provide a safe and secure environment for the people."

In Dec. 22 operations:

· Iraqi soldiers arrested two suspected terrorists in Baghdad. One of the detainees is a former major general who'd served in Saddam Hussein's regime. He is linked to the financing of several terrorist and criminal groups.

· An Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics team arrested three alleged terrorists during an operation in Hit.

In other news, an Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics team from Mosul arrested a suspected terrorist during an operation conducted in Hay Hathel Village Dec. 21. The detainee is accused of making improvised explosive devices and facilitating their placement in and around Mosul.

Iraqi Special Operations soldiers captured two men in Salman Pak Dec. 20. These men allegedly facilitated the movement of weapons into Abu Ghraib and were involved in house bombings in the area. During another operation conducted in Hashimiya that day, an Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics team from Hillah arrested three suspected criminals.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Forces Capture Suspected Terrorists, Discover Weapons Caches

American Forces Press Service

Oct. 24, 2008 - Coalition forces continued efforts to disrupt al-Qaida in Iraq car bomb networks, capturing eight suspected terrorists during operations today and yesterday in central Iraq, military officials said. Forces operating in Baghdad Thursday night captured a wanted man believed to be associated with one of the city's terrorist car bomb cells. He and another suspect were detained without incident during the operation, officials said.

Coalition forces also took aim at terrorist car bomb networks during two related operations today outside of Fallujah, about 35 miles west of Baghdad, officials said.

During the first operation, forces captured a wanted man who intelligence reports suggest is a car bomb facilitator in Fallujah with multiple connections to other facilitators throughout the region. Two men believed to be associates of the wanted man were also detained for questioning, they said.

During a subsequent operation in the area, forces nabbed another wanted man believed to be associated with area car bomb networks. The man, who is also assessed to be an Al-Qaida weapons facilitator, was detained with two other suspected terrorists.

Additional terrorists were captured during other recent operations in Iraq:

- Coalition troops detained five suspected members of Iranian-based terrorist groups yesterday in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. The soldiers were with the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 7th Squadron.

- On Wednesday in Tikrit, Salah ad Din Special Weapons and Tactics captured a suspected terrorist cell leader. The cell leader is believed to be responsible for emplacing improvised explosive devices, torturing innocent civilians to death, and providing early warning to insurgents regarding coalition and Iraqi forces operations.

- In an operation Tuesday in western Mosul, Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured four suspected terrorist cell members operating in the Hay Al Tinek neighborhood. The cell members are believed to be responsible for conducting assassinations, kidnappings for ransom, and IED attacks.

- During a separate operation Tuesday, Iraqi soldiers captured three suspected Al-Qaida terrorists in eastern Mosul responsible for IED and vehicle-borne IED attacks. One man is believed to have conducted more than 12 attacks since July.

- Coalition soldiers captured an Iranian-based terrorist group member yesterday in the Aamel community of southern Baghdad.

- U.S. soldiers arrested two suspected terrorists Wednesday and Thursday while conducting early morning raids in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.

At about 3 a.m. Wednesday, soldiers from 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, detained a suspected criminal in connection with a car bomb attack on Oct. 10 in the Abu T'shir community.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. detained a suspected special group criminal Thursday at about 2 a.m. in the Aamel community. The patrol returned to a combat outpost with the suspect wanted for weapons trafficking.

In other reports out of Iraq, a local citizen led coalition troops yesterday to a cache of over 5,000 pounds of munitions in the town of al-Harij in northern Babil province, officials said.

Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team uncovered the buried cache that contained 34 bags of home-made explosives weighing 154 pounds each, more than 500 cylinders of explosives, 30 RPG rounds, 100 mortar rounds, two 5-pound bags of explosives, 23 hand grenades, two 80-mm mortars, two 4-foot rockets, four 60-mm rounds, four mortar sights, three anti-personnel grenade rounds, one bag of loose AK-47 rounds, 15 magazines for 7.62-caliber rounds as well a other bomb-making materials, they said.

An explosive ordnance disposal team rendered the cache items safe for removal, officials said.

Lt. Col. Timothy Newsome, commander of the 3rd Battalion, credited the coalition's improved relationships with Iraqis in allowing them to make such finds.

"Though we have a relatively peaceful and stable environment in the Jurf As Sakhr region, the astounding size of this cache, the variety of munitions that are in it and the indicators that it is a relatively new cache all serve to demonstrate the very tenuous nature of the hard fought peace that is currently in place," Newsome said. "Discoveries of this magnitude would not be possible without the close working relationships we have fostered over the past 11 months with the honest, hard-working citizens of the region."

In other weapons seizures this week:

- U.S. troops seized bomb-making materials yesterday during a security patrol in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. Responding to a citizen's tip, soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team patrolled the Aamel community and seized 27 copper plates suspected to be used for explosively formed projectiles. An explosives ordnance disposal team responded to handle the bomb-making materials.

- Coalition troops secured a weapons cache Wednesday just west of Suwayrah. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade received a tip from an Iraqi citizen of the location of the cache which included seven copper discs and PVC cases used to manufacture explosively-formed penetrators, four rocket-propelled grenades, four blocks of C4, two 120 mm mortar rounds and one 60 mm mortar round.

- The Muthanna Province's Iraqi Police were tipped off about a weapon cache near al Khidr, a town southwest of Samawah, Tuesday and found 1,100 pounds of TNT dynamite in a concrete plant. The police also discovered 110 fuses at the site.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Forces Keep Pressure on Terrorists, Criminals in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

Oct. 13, 2008 - Iraqi forces kept the pressure on terrorists over the past several days, capturing terrorists and shutting down their operations, military officials reported. Iraqi police shut down a terrorist-run improvised explosive device factory in Mosul and arrested three suspects in southern Iraq during separate operations yesterday.

The Mosul bomb-making factory contained two bags of homemade explosives weighing about 150 pounds each, three bags of ammonium nitrate weighing about 10 pounds each and other IED-making materials. Iraqi police also detained one suspect. Iraqi and coalition soldiers were brought to the site to gather the materials for disposal.

"This is just another example of the great work the Iraqi police are doing to make their communities safer," said Army Maj. Peggy Kageleiry, spokesperson for coalition forces posted north of Baghdad.

In southern Iraq, Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) police, with coalition forces in support, arrested two suspected criminals in Maysan province and detained another criminal in Dhi Qar province. Since mid-June, Iraqi and coalition security forces have arrested more than 50 suspected criminals and seized more than 8,500 rounds of munitions during operations throughout Muthanna, Dhi Qar and Maysan provinces in southern Iraq.

During Oct. 11 operations, U.S. soldiers detained two suspected criminals and discovered a rocket during operations in Baghdad. The detainees are linked to an Oct. 10 vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack in the Abu T'shir community. Another group of U.S. soldiers discovered a 60 mm rocket during a patrol in the area.

In a separate operation, Iraqi security forces found a large munitions cache in Tikrit. The cache contained 700 artillery rounds and more than 300 large-caliber machine gun rounds. The cache was later destroyed by coalition forces.

Meanwhile, elements of the 3rd Iraqi Army Division in Rabiah captured two suspected terrorists believed to be part of a lethal smuggling ring with the ability to move freely across Iraqi's border to facilitate the movement of vehicles.

In Zaganiyah, Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured five people suspected of being members of an al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist cell. They are believed to be a part of a cell responsible for murder, kidnappings and attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces.

During Oct. 10 operations, Tips led Iraqi police and U.S. soldiers to seize separate weapons caches in Baghdad. Iraqi police seized seven 60 mm mortars, two 30 mm rifle grenades, two 57 mm warheads and a 60 mm warhead. U.S. soldiers confiscated 10 pounds of explosives, a 120 mm mortar tube, a 60 mm mortar tube and several rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

In Baghdad's Rashid district, U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security forces discovered multiple weapon caches during operations. Iraqi soldiers discovered nearly 150 mortar rounds, 10 pounds of plastic explosives, two pounds of TNT, six rocket propelled grenade propellant sticks and various bomb making material while on patrol in the Karb De Gla community. An explosive ordnance disposal unit disposed of the munitions.

Meanwhile, Iraqi police found three rocket propelled grenades and a hand grenade in a house while on patrol in the Aamel community. U.S. soldiers discovered an 82 mm mortar round while on patrol in the Shurta community. An Iraqi munitions disposal team arrived to transport the ordnance.

Separately, Kirkuk Provincial police captured a suspected Ansar Al-Sunna terrorist member with ties to al Qaeda. Officials believe the man to have organized multiple improvised explosive device attacks in the area since May 2008.

"These operations show the ability of Iraqi Security Forces to repeatedly capture criminals who undermine the security of Iraq," said Army Lt. Col Neil Harper, Multinational Corps Iraq, spokesman.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq and Multinational Force Iraq press releases.)

Troops in Iraq Kill Enemy Fighters, Detain Suspects, Seize Weapons

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 3, 2008 - Coalition forces in Iraq killed three enemy fighters, detained dozens of terrorism suspects and seized illegal weapons caches in operations over the last few days, military officials reported. In operations conducted today and yesterday:

-- In Baghdad, coalition forces captured a wanted man reportedly responsible for establishing a foreign terrorist facilitation hub in the city. Two additional suspects were detained.

-- South of Mosul, coalition forces captured a man believed to manage finances and logistics for al-Qaida in Iraq cells in the Hamrin Mountains region. An additional suspected terrorist was detained.

-- Coalition forces searched Bir Qassim, a village near the Syrian border that intelligence reports indicate is the location of al-Qaida foreign terrorist facilitation operations. During the sweep, coalition forces detained 10 suspected terrorists.

–- Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team detained two suspected roadside-bomb makers in the Saydiyah community of Rashid.

–- Coalition forces conducted a precision operation in Tikrit and captured the alleged al-Qaida in Iraq leader there, officials said. The wanted man reportedly keeps videos of terrorist attacks and is tied to other networks within al-Qaida in Iraq.

–- In Baghdad, coalition forces captured a man believed to be an al-Qaida in Iraq extremist with connections in Egypt. Officials said the wanted man solicited al-Qaida in Iraq members about starting terrorist training and helping the foreign terrorist network. Three additional suspects were detained in the operations.

–- Two suspected terrorists were detained by coalition forces near Balad in operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq leaders.

–- In Mosul, coalition forces targeted an associate of al-Qaida in Iraq senior leaders and detained five suspected terrorists.

–- Iraqi National Police turned over a weapons cache to soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team working at a joint security station in Rashid. The cache consisted of three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, two RPG rounds, a machine gun, 50 7.62 mm rounds, a claymore mine, a 60 mm mortar tube with mount and base plate, and two 80 mm mortar tubes.

In operations Aug. 1:

–- Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team detained a suspected criminal in the Jihad community of Rashid and delivered him to a joint security station for questioning.

–- Iraqi National Police seized seven rocket-propelled grenades, six RPG propellants, 200 PKC rounds and 50 7.62 mm rounds in the Aamel community.

–- Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team seized a weapons cache north of Baghdad containing a partial improvised explosive device with three tubes of explosive material, a 120 mm rocket, four 120 mm rocket warheads, three 107 mm warheads, four 120 mm mortars, an anti-tank land mine, 25 120 mm projectiles, three 155 mm projectiles and two 105 mm projectiles.

–- Members of a "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group turned in a weapons cache consisting of three 130 mm projectiles, two 155 mm projectiles and a 150 mm mortar to soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

–-Iraqi National Police turned in a recovered cache to a forward operating base in Baghdad's West Rashid district. The cache included seven rocket-propelled grenades, six RPG propellants, 200 PKC machine gun rounds and 50 7.62 mm rounds.

–- In Baghdad's East Rashid district, acting on a tip from a local citizen, Iraqi National Police recovered three RPG launchers, two RPGs, 50 7.62 mm rounds, a claymore mine, a 60 mm mortar tube with plate and mounts and two 80 mm mortar tubes.

–- The Iraqi special weapons and tactics team in Hillah detained a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member in Diyala province. The suspect allegedly is part of a cell responsible for ethnic violence, kidnapping and improvised explosive device attacks.

–- Iraqi special operations forces detained two suspected Iranian-backed "special groups" members in Qurna, southeast of Baghdad. Officials said the suspects allegedly lead one of the most effective enemy cells in Qurna.

–- Members of the Hillah SWAT team detained a suspected special groups member in Kalsu, south of Baghdad, and two others on an Interior Ministry warrant. The suspects allegedly are members of an IED emplacement cell.

In operations July 31, Iraqi soldiers operating in Salahuddin province during Operation Eagle Pursuit killed three al-Qaida in Iraq fighters as another detonated his suicide vest, killing himself, military officials said. The soldiers also detained nine suspected al-Qaida in Iraq members.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Coalition Troops in Iraq Capture 30 Suspected al-Qaida Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

July 28, 2008 - Coalition forces today captured two wanted men and detained 28 additional suspected terrorists while targeting al-Qaida operations in central and northern Iraq, military officials said. Coalition forces detained two wanted men and five additional suspects during an operation in Abu Ghraib, about 25 kilometers west of Baghdad. One of the men reportedly is an al-Qaida in Iraq leader who oversees attacks. The other wanted man allegedly makes and emplaces roadside bombs.

Using information obtained from a June 24 operation, coalition forces in Mosul targeted a man believed to oversee al-Qaida financial operations in Ninevah province. They detained one suspect, and seven additional suspects were detained in another operation targeting an al-Qaida in Iraq senior leader.

Tips from local residents helped coalition forces envelop a village southwest of Mosul that reportedly is a hideout for al-Qaida facilitators and smugglers coming in from Syria. Fifteen suspects were detained.

During yesterday's operations:

-- Coalition forces captured two suspected leaders of Iranian-backed "special groups" and another suspect during separate operations in Baghdad's Rusafa district. Coalition forces first captured one suspected special groups leaders operating in the Sadr City area. He is linked to attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces, as well as to kidnappings and smuggling of weapons from Iran to Iraq. In a separate operation in the Rusafa district, coalition forces captured the leader of a Karkh-area special groups ring and another suspect. The detained leader is linked to the provision of weapons, money and logistical support to subordinates. He also is believed to have supplied fighters to support criminal operations.

-- Fifty-eight suspected al-Qaida members were detained and four were killed during a coalition search operation in Ninewah province.

-- U.S. soldiers detained a special groups operative and discovered a weapons cache in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. The detainee is linked to rocket and roadside-bomb attacks against coalition forces. Later, the soldiers discovered two nitrous oxide tanks, a fire extinguisher filled with homemade explosives, ammunition, two pressure plates used in roadside bombs and a smoke grenade in Baghdad's Doura community. An explosives ordnance disposal team disposed of the explosive materials.

Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces detained a suspected al-Qaida terrorist and discovered a weapons cache in separate operations in northern Iraq July 25.

The Muqdadiyah special weapons and tactics team detained a suspected al-Qaida member in Babylon, northeast of Baghdad, in an operation to disrupt terrorist activity in Muqdadiyah. The suspect allegedly is a facilitator for a cell involved in roadside-bomb emplacements, sectarian violence and weapons smuggling.

Also, Iraqi National Police operating northwest of Baghdad discovered a weapons cache consisting of about a metric ton of nitric acid, 150 pounds of explosive materials, mortar rounds, projectiles, tank rounds and rockets. An explosive ordnance disposal unit disposed of the cache.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

U.S. Soldiers Seize Suspected Bomber in Baghdad Raid

American Forces Press Service

July 25, 2008 - U.S. soldiers in Baghdad today detained a suspect linked to roadside-bomb attacks against coalition forces during an operation in the city's Risalah sector, military officials said. The detainee was taken to a coalition base for questioning.

In yesterday's operations:

-- U.S. soldiers in Baghdad found an explosive device on the side of a road in Baghdad's Jazair community. An explosive ordnance team disposed of the bomb.

-- U.S. soldiers patrolling Baghdad's East Rashid sector seized two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 246 7.62 mm rounds.

-- U.S. soldiers found an improvised explosive device-making workshop in Baghdad's East Rashid neighborhood. The workshop contained: radios, batteries, power sources, garage door openers, circuit boards, programmers, a cable, computer screens, tools, wire, plastic bags, a global positioning system device, electrical components, documents, identification cards, and propaganda tapes.

-- "Sons of Iraq" citizen volunteers in Baghdad found a weapons cache consisting of three rockets and recoilless-rifle ammunition.

-- Iraqi soldiers in Baghdad seized a rocket-propelled grenade, three grenade nose cones, six mortar rounds, eight anti-tank mines, 10 grenades, three flares, 500 machine-gun rounds, detonation cord, a container of bolts, and a license plate.

-- Iraqi police posted in Baghdad's East Rashid sector found a 107 mm rocket and 15 mortar rounds.

-- U.S. soldiers patrolling the Mansour area of Baghdad found 500 rounds of ammunition, a body armor vest, and an AK-47 rifle.

-- Responding to a tip, U.S. soldiers seized a weapons cache in Baghdad and also discovered a stockpile of improvised explosive device-making materials located inside a store near the city's Doura community market. Later, a Sons of Iraq member turned in a 155 mm artillery round to U.S. soldiers patrolling the Karb De Gla community.

In July 22 operations:

-- In Mosul, Iraqi special operations forces detained eight suspected members of the Islamic State of Iraq, a front organization for al-Qaida in Iraq. Two other suspects also were detained during the operation.

-- In Rutbah, an Iraqi special weapons and tactics unit detained a suspected terrorist linked to suicide and improvised-explosive-device attacks against Iraqi police. The detainee also is believed to have housed the woman who conducted the May suicide attack at an office in Rutbah. Four other suspects also were detained during the operation.

-- In Zaidon, the Fallujah special weapons and tactics team detained four suspected weapons dealers believed to be supplying criminal in the area.

-- In Baghdad, an Iraqi emergency response unit detained four suspected al-Qaida terrorists. The detainees are linked to attacks against Iraqi police and coalition forces. The suspects also are tied to improvised-explosive-device attacks, assassinations, sectarian violence, and displacement and intimidation of local Iraqis.

-- In Jisr Diyala, Iraqi special operations troops detained a suspected Iranian-trained "special groups" leader and two other suspects. The detainees are implicated in the killings of local Iraqis and are suspected of plotting to attack coalition bases in the area.

In July 21 operations, An Iraqi special weapons and tactics team detained two suspected special groups criminals during an operation in Kut. The detainees are linked to roadside-bomb and explosively formed projectile attacks against Iraqi and coalition security forces.

Also July 21, an Iraqi emergency response unit uncovered a suspected special groups weapons cache in Baghdad. The cache contained sniper rifles, machine guns, rockets, several thousand rounds of ammunition, rocket-propelled-grenade launchers and warheads, homemade explosive materials, and various bomb-making materials.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Troops in Iraq Kill Six, Detain 54

American Forces Press Service

May 23, 2008 - Coalition forces killed six wanted men, detain 54 suspects, and discover multiple weapons caches throughout Iraq, military officials said. Coalition forces captured six wanted men and detained an additional 15 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq from Baghdad to Mosul along the Tigris River valley.

During operations yesterday:

-- Iraqi soldiers found substantial weapons caches containing a wide range of weapons, rounds of various sizes, and other types of equipment in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.

-- Encouraged by tribal leaders to end a standoff with coalition forces, more than 140 suspected turned themselves in at the Joint Coordination Center in Balad.

-- Iraqi soldiers found multiple weapons caches and makeshift bombs in Sadr City as part of Operation Peace.

-- In southeastern Baghdad, soldiers discovered a weapons cache. The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, soldiers, acting on a tip from a local citizen, found the cache in the Diyala area of New Baghdad and seized various weapons and rounds.
In operations May 21:

-- Coalition forces killed six men after they refused to follow instructions to surrender and exhibited hostile intent. Troops also detained two wanted individuals and detained 28 other suspected terrorists in separate operations.

-- Iraqi special operations forces captured a suspected insurgent financier in Zubayr. He is suspected of weapons smuggling along the Iraq-Iran border.

-- An Iraqi special weapons and tactics team captured two suspected terrorists in Mosul, including a high-ranking al-Qaida leader responsible for bombing attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. Iraqi officials had issued a warrant for his arrest.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Troops in Iraq Kill 13 Enemy Fighters, Catch 79 Suspects

American Forces Press Service

May 22, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 13 enemy fighters, detained 79 suspects, and uncovered makeshift bombs and other weapons in recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.
In Iraq yesterday:

-- Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers killed 11 enemy fighters in an ongoing operation in the New Baghdad security district of the Iraqi capital. Military officials said troops killed the combatants either to defend themselves from immediate danger or to prevent the enemy from planting homemade bombs in the area.

-- Coalition forces caught two individuals fleeing a mud hut near Beiji that was doubling as a weapons cache. As troops returned to the site, two enemy fighters hiding inside threw grenades. Forces engaged and killed the individuals. In a nearby raid, troops detained one wanted man and 12 other alleged associates of a bombing network that operates in the Tigris River valley.

-- Coalition forces captured six enemy fighters in Mosul, including an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq senior leader who is believed to lead attacks against coalition forces. In Sinjar, about 70 miles west of Mosul, forces captured a suspected foreign-terrorist smuggler and one additional suspect.

-- Troops captured a man believed to be a terrorist smuggler and seven additional suspected terrorists in Mosul. The wanted man allegedly is involved in al-Qaida foreign-terrorist-network operations and was found with several international phone numbers in his pocket at the time of his detention, military officials said.

-- In a simultaneous raid around Baghdad, coalition forces captured six suspects military officials have linked to Iranian-backed "special groups." One detainee is an alleged weapons smuggler and kidnapper wanted for supplying lethal aid to enemy fighters in the Shula area of the Iraqi capital.

-- Coalition forces detained three suspects while targeting an al-Qaida in Iraq logistics and administration assistant near Abu Ghraib, about 15 miles west of Baghdad. In the Iraqi capital, meanwhile, troops captured a wanted man allegedly linked to suicide-bombing operations.

-- Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained three suspected enemy fighters while conducting an intelligence-driven operation at 2 a.m. in the Abu Tshir neighborhood of southern Baghdad.

-- Coalition and Iraqi forces seized weapons stockpiles totaling scores of mortar and ammunition rounds, assault rifles, rockets and launchers, explosives-making materials, and homemade bombs in the Sadr City, Kadamiyah, Rusafa, Karkh and New Baghdad sections of the Iraqi capital and a cache about eight miles south of Baghdad.

During operations in Iraq on May 20:

-- Several coalition Black Hawk helicopters inserted teams of Iraqi special weapons and tactics troops and U.S. Special Forces soldiers into a village about nine miles northeast of Baghdad. The combined forces captured 29 insurgents, including the senior and mid-level al-Qaida in Iraq leaders in the Mullah Eid area.

-- Iraqi national police forces with support from police transition team members captured four suspected insurgents during an operation in Jisr Diyala. The detainees had outstanding warrants for terrorist activities, military officials said.

-- Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists east of Samarra while targeting associates of a slain senior al-Qaida leader killed during an operation earlier in the day.

-- Iraqi and coalition forces discovered weapons and multiple makeshift bombs in the Sadr City section of the Iraqi capital, and several weapons caches in southern Baghdad's Rashid district. The finds included homemade explosives, bomb-making materials, a rocket-propelled grenade with launcher, and mortar rounds.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Coalition Forces in Iraq Capture 16 Suspects

American Forces Press Service

May 14, 2008 - Coalition forces caught 16 suspected terrorists today in central and northern Iraq during operations to disrupt the al-Qaida in Iraq network. Coalition forces captured a wanted man and five other suspects during two operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq cells in Mosul. The wanted man is believed to be a cell leader who plans and conducts bombing attacks against coalition forces.

West of Samarra, about 65 miles north of Baghdad, coalition forces captured an alleged associate of senior al-Qaida in Iraq leader in Salahuddin province.

Northwest of Balad, about 50 miles north of Baghdad, coalition forces captured a man who allegedly facilitates suicide bombings. They detained six additional suspects in that operation.

Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists in Baghdad during an operation targeting an al-Qaida in Iraq senior leader.

In operations in Iraq yesterday, an Iraqi special weapons and tactics team caught four suspected terrorists in Tal Afar, about 240 miles northwest of Baghdad. The operations targeted major cell members of the Islamic Sons of Iraq, which officials said is a front organization for the foreign-led al-Qaida in Iraq. Those captured are suspected of recent bombings and attacks against the local citizens and coalition forces.

Also yesterday, Iraqi army soldiers found a large weapons cache in Mosul. The cache included 600 pounds of bulk explosives, grenades, 200 pounds of ammunition, 16 radios, three mortar tubes, a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, eight AK-47 assault rifles, a rocket, 10 dynamite blocks and five pipe bombs.

In operations May 11, a local citizen led Iraqi soldiers to a cache in Shakariya, southwest of Baghdad. The cache included 50 rocket fuses, varied ammunition, an anti-tank grenade, three pressure plates, a bag of homemade explosives, and various trigger components.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Coalition Soldiers Kill Six Enemy Fighters, Capture Weapons Caches

American Forces Press Service

May 9, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi soldiers in Baghdad killed six enemy fighters, fended off an attack, and captured and destroyed several weapons caches yesterday. Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers killed six criminals, who attacked coalition forces with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms during multiple engagements in the Sadr City district of Baghdad yesterday.

-- At about 1:30 p.m., soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, were attacked by criminals with RPGs and small arms. Soldiers returned fire and killed one criminal.

-- At about 2 p.m., soldiers from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, identified one Iranian trained "special groups" fighter on a rooftop with a weapon. Soldiers engaged the individual and killed him.

-- At about 4:30 p.m., soldiers from 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and 1138th Engineer Battalion were attacked with RPGs and small arms while they were emplacing barriers to provide security for the residents of Sadr City. Soldiers fired one tank round and machine guns, killing three enemy fighters.

-- Soldiers from 1138th Engineer Battalion were later struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting a route-clearing mission at about 5 p.m. Soldiers were then attacked with RPGs and returned fire, killing one enemy fighter. No soldiers were injured in the IED attack.

"Special group criminals continue to disrupt the security of local Iraqi communities," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a spokesman for Multinational Division Baghdad and 4th Infantry Division. "These barriers will improve security, life will get better for Sadr City residents, and together with the Iraqi security forces, we will bring the criminals to justice."

In other operations yesterday, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers engaged two enemy rocket teams and fended off an attack during night operations.

-- At about 6:30 p.m., soldiers monitoring an aerial surveillance system witnessed two special groups members gathering around a rocket rail that had been used for an indirect-fire attack earlier in Sadr City. The enemy fighters then loaded two carts and pushed them down a street. An aerial weapons team was called in, engaged the individuals with one Hellfire missile, killing both.

-- Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, were attacked by fighters using small-arms fire at about 8:35 p.m. in Sadr City. Acting in self-defense, the soldiers fired one M1A2 Abrams tank round and machine gun fire, killing two of the attackers.

-- At about 10:45 p.m., soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, operating an unmanned aerial vehicle witnessed four special groups members load a rocket rail into a vehicle and drive away in New Baghdad. The UAV followed the vehicle until it stopped and parked inside a garage in Sadr City. The UAV engaged the garage with a Hellfire missile. Two enemy fighters were killed, and the rocket rail, garage and vehicle were destroyed.

Iraq security forces and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers destroyed several weapons caches across Baghdad yesterday.

-- At about 6 a.m., soldiers with Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, discovered a weapons cache containing eight 120 mm mortar rounds in West Rashid.

-- At about 8 a.m., Iraqi army soldiers found three weapons caches during a combat patrol in Sadr City. The weapons caches contained five 155 mm artillery rounds, four 120 mm mortar rounds and assorted ammunition and equipment.

-- At about 11:30 a.m., Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers patrolling the Mansour district of Baghdad discovered an improvised explosive device made up of a paint can filled with ammonium nitrate, wrapped in detonation cord. In addition, a 40 pound bag of ammonium nitrate and a 60 pound bag of an unknown chemical were found at the site.

-- At about 2:30 p.m., Iraqi army soldiers discovered a weapons cache northwest of Baghdad containing three 30 pound bags of homemade explosive and four rocket-propelled-grenade initiators.

-- At about 4:45 p.m., Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers discovered a weapons cache west of Baghdad containing a 155 mm artillery round, 130 mm mortar round, two rocket-propelled-grenade warheads, a rifle grenade and other assorted ammunition.

"The Iraqi Security Forces are visibly out on the streets securing and protecting the people of Baghdad," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman, MND-B and 4th Infantry Division. "They sacrifice daily and are conducting independent operations."

A Multinational Division Baghdad air weapons team killed two enemy fighters and wounded four, all of whom were involved in launching a rocket attack on Sadr City citizens. The individuals were hiding in a building in the Sadr City district of Baghdad at approximately 2 p.m. May 8 after launching the rocket. The criminals launched the rocket attack at about 1:30 p.m. that killed two Iraqi citizens, injured eight more and damaged a house in central Baghdad. An unmanned aerial vehicle, conducting a surveillance mission in the area, observed the individuals moving rocket rails from the rocket site to an alley near a building. It then maintained positive identification as they entered a building and were observed on the rooftop.

An aerial weapons team was dispatched to the area and engaged the enemy fighters. The team fired three Hellfire missiles into the building, one at the first floor, one at the second floor and one at a shack on the roof, and killed and wounded the enemy fighters. Bomb damage was limited to the multi-story building involved in the attack.

"These criminals are responsible for the murder of innocent Iraqi civilians, who died as a result of their heinous, indiscriminate attack," said Army Col. Allen Batschelet, Multinational Division Baghdad and 4th Infantry Division chief of staff.

Also yesterday, Iraqi security forces detained a special groups cell leader and three al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists in two separate operations. Iraqi special operations forces conducted an operation in Baghdad and detained a Bayaa district special groups cell leader believed to be responsible for kidnapping operations and indirect-fire attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces. Two additional suspects were detained. In Ramadi, an Iraqi special weapons and tactics team detained three al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists known to be involved with coordinating improvised-explosive-device attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces and facilitating foreign fighters.

Earlier, Iraqi security forces, "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group members, and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers seized caches and recovered weapons across Baghdad on May 7.

-- At about 9:20 a.m., Sons of Iraq members in Adhamiyah discovered a possible improvised explosive device that had been inadvertently picked up by a sanitation truck. The Sons of Iraq found two 81 mm projectiles, a 120 mm Hera Mark I mortar, a projectile booster and detonation cord.

-- At about 10:45 a.m., Iraqi National Police, along with soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, seized munitions found in an abandoned mosque while conducting a patrol in eastern Rashid. Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers secured the area as the Iraqi police obtained permission to enter the mosque. The Iraqi police entered the abandoned mosque and seized two containers of homemade explosive, a rocket-propelled grenade with launcher, a smoke grenade, and an Iraqi army uniform.

-- At about 6:50 a.m., soldiers with Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, discovered a weapons cache containing three 107 mm rockets, five RPGs, a 60 mm mortar, and 200 rounds of PKC light machine gun ammunition during a combat patrol in western Rashid.

-- At about 4 p.m., soldiers with Company B, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, discovered a weapons cache consisting of eight 155 mm projectiles and five 60 mm mortar rounds while on patrol in western Rashid.

"Along with our Iraqi security forces partners, we are taking these dangerous weapons off the streets," Batschelet said. "Reducing the number of weapons available to criminal elements contributes directly to the safety of Iraqi citizens."

In other earlier operations in Iraq:

-- Multinational Division Center soldiers recovered nearly 200 weapons rounds near Shubayshen, about 30 kilometers southwest of Baghdad, May 7. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), acted on a tip that there was a weapons cache in the area. The cache contained 82 57 mm rockets, 95 82 mm mortars, and 23 120 mm rounds, all of which could have been used as improvised explosive devices. Explosive ordnance disposal personnel will dispose of the ordnance at a later date, officials said.

-- Iraqi army soldiers and Iraqi police officers prevented potential improvised-explosive-device attacks in the East Mansour district of Baghdad when they stopped a vehicle that was being used to transport IEDs in the area at about 1 p.m. May 7. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 54th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, along with Jamia Iraqi police officers, conducted a traffic stop after noticing a suspicious individual driving down a road. After stopping the vehicle, the soldiers and police officers discovered the deadly weapons in the vehicle. The forces fired at the man and wounded him. Inside the vehicle, the forces seized three tanks of oxygen that were set up as IEDs. An explosive ordnance detachment detonated the device. "The Iraqi security forces continue to demonstrate their professionalism every day as the combat the terrorist forces," Batschelet said. "Their attention to detail prevented what could have been a deadly attack on the innocent people of Iraq."

-- Soldiers from 320th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), unearthed a cache during air assault operations in the Said Abdullah corridor, about 30 kilometers southwest of Baghdad, May 6. Soldiers from 320th Field Artillery, found a buried cache that contained 18 86 mm projectiles, three 82 mm rounds, three 130 mm rounds prepared as improvised explosive devices, one 75 mm rocket, one 60 mm mortar base plate, one rocket-propelled-grenade round, and one packing tube with 2,500 7.62 mm rounds. The unit destroyed the cache.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq and Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)

Coalition, Iraqi Forces Kill, Capture Insurgents

American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed and captured dozens of enemy fighters and terrorists during operatrions conducted throughout Iraq over the past three days. Coalition forces captured two suspected Iranian-trained insurgents early this morning in the Rashid district in Baghdad.

Intelligence information led coalition forces to the location of an individual suspected of smuggling Iranian weapons. He is also suspected of providing information to other insurgent leaders that led to rocket attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces. The terrorist surrendered without incident.

Coalition forces conducted a follow-on mission to capture another suspect. There, they detained an individual identified as an insurgent.

Also in Baghdad, Multinational Division soldiers used an unmanned aerial vehicle to kill five insurgents in Sadr City during operations last night and early this morning.

"Criminal elements continue to put innocent Iraqis in harm's way by attacking Iraqi Security Forces and. Coalition soldiers from rooftops, alleyways and residential buildings," said Army Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman for MND-B and the 4th Infantry Division. "These criminals know what they are doing, and their actions prove they don't care for the lives of innocent civilians."

Yesterday, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers killed six insurgents after they were attacked during night operations.

Soldiers of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment were attacked with an improvised explosive device. As they secured their vehicles, the soldiers were attacked by criminals using small-arms fire. The soldiers returned fire and killed two criminals. No soldiers were injured in the IED attack or subsequent engagement.

In other combined operations yesterday, Iraqi and coalition forces destroyed an enemy command and control center with precision-guided munitions in northeastern Baghdad.

In southern Iraq on May 2, an Iraqi special weapons and tactics team arrested two suspected members of a criminal group and four of their associates during an overnight operation near the city of al-Jabella, approximately 55 miles southeast of Baghdad.

Also on May 2, Iraqi Special Operations Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured a suspected mid-level insurgent leader and detained a member of his group in Baghdad.

In another May 2 operation in Warij, coalition forces found a weapons cache of explosively formed penetrators. Soldiers discovered four EFPs hidden in a closet shelf in a factory office. A brand-new 107 mm rocket was also discovered. The cache also included 40 pounds of unknown bulk explosives, a rocket sled and blasting caps.

In the Jazeera Desert in northern Iraq on May 1, U.S. special forces soldiers killed four and detained seven insurgents during a reconnaissance patrol about 237 miles north of Baghdad.

Also on May 1, other Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers killed five criminals, detained 24, found two caches and two explosively formed penetrators throughout a 24-hour period in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.

The soldiers worked with Iraqi police officers to accomplish the mission.

(From Multinational Forces Iraq releases.)

Troops in Iraq Kill 11 Suspected Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

April 30, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 11 suspected terrorists, detained three others, and seized weapons caches in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.

During operations this morning in the Iraqi capital:

-- Enemy fighters using small-arms fire attacked soldiers from 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, around 9 a.m. Troops fired a round from their main tank gun, killing one attacker. The soldiers fired another round minutes later at some men attempting to use an improvised rocket launcher. The round killed two of the would-be attackers and destroyed their weapon.

-- Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers operating an unmanned aerial vehicle observed three men emplacing a roadside bomb in Baghdad's Sadr City district at about 5 a.m. The UAV engaged the men with a Hellfire missile, killing one and wounding another.

-- Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained three men around 3:30 a.m. near a blast site in northwestern Baghdad, where a soldier was killed earlier by an improvised explosive device. Intelligence indicates the detained suspects were involved in the attack, military officials said.

-- Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, used a tank main gun round to engage a group of men carrying a rocket tripod. The round destroyed the tripod.

In Iraq yesterday:

-- While patrolling in the Istiqal qada region of Baghdad, soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 68th Combined Arms Battalion, spotted two men attempting to recover an armor-piercing explosively formed penetrator. Troops engaged and killed the two men, and an explosive ordnance team destroyed the explosive.

-- Coalition forces observed two men firing a mortar system in northeastern Baghdad around 5:15 p.m. A fixed wing aircraft responded, dropping a bomb that killed the men and destroyed the mortar system.

-- Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, came under attack by heavy machine-gun fire from a house in northeastern Baghdad. Troops returned fire, killing two enemy fighters and destroying two machine guns.

-- Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers engaged and killed an attacker and wounded another after receiving small-arms fire during a security patrol in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.

During April 28 operations in Iraq:

-- "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group members helped Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers capture a key terrorist in the Iraqi capital. The suspect reportedly is responsible for car-bomb, IED and sniper attacks on coalition forces, as well as for weapons trafficking and kidnapping and murdering Iraqis.

-- The Tikrit special weapons and tactics unit, advised by U.S. Special Forces soldiers, detained a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq cell leader during an operation in the city's Qadasiyah neighborhood. The suspected terrorist financier is believed to be responsible for all IED attacks in the Qadasiyah neighborhood and for bribing local Iraqi security forces.

-- Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers discovered a significant cache in the western part of Baghdad's Rashid district and another near a mosque in Abu Tshir. The caches contained 107 mm rockets and a partially built EFP.

-- An Iraqi citizen in the Abu Osage village outside Baghdad led soldiers of 1st Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, to a cache containing 450 57 mm mortar rounds. Troops took the munitions to a nearby Iraqi army compound to be destroyed.

-- An anonymous tip led soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division's 2nd Platoon, Troop C, 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, to a cache containing a suicide vest in Mugartimat, a town on the southwest outskirts of Baghdad. The vest was packed with about 24 pounds of homemade explosives and rolls of wire, blasting caps, and pressure and circuit switches. Explosive ordnance disposal personnel detonated the cache on site.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Troops in Iraq Kill Suspected Terrorists, Capture Dozens

American Forces Press Service

April 27, 2008 - Coalition forces killed at least 20 suspected terrorists, captured scores of others, and seized weapons caches in Iraq over the past four days, military officials said.

During operations today:

-- Coalition forces conducted two operations east of Samarra targeting associates of a known al-Qaida in Iraq facilitator who is a liaison with senior terrorist leaders. Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists and discovered weapons and a building wired to explode. After moving civilians away from the area, coalition forces called for an air strike to destroy the building and weapons.

-- During operations in Mosul in northern Iraq, about 100 kilometers from the Turkish border, coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists. One of the suspects is believed to be an al-Qaida in Iraq leader in the city, and another is believed to be part of an illegal terrorist court system. During the operation, coalition forces found a building containing bomb-making materials, which they safely destroyed on site.

-- South of Taji, coalition forces captured an alleged associate of al-Qaida in Iraq leaders and five additional suspects believed to have ties to the terrorist network in the northern belt around Baghdad.

In operations around Iraq yesterday:

-- Coalition forces conducted coordinated operations targeting associates of an individual who allegedly acts as a facilitator and liaison for al-Qaida in Iraq leaders, military officials said. When coalition forces arrived in the target area east of Tikrit, they encountered small-arms fire. Responding in self-defense, coalition forces returned fire and called for supporting aircraft to engage the hostile threat. Three terrorists were killed in the initial engagement, but coalition forces continued to receive fire as they secured buildings in the area. Again engaging the hostile threat, coalition forces killed two more terrorists. Inside the buildings, coalition forces discovered weapons and more than 900 pounds of explosives, which they safely destroyed on site.

-- The operators of an unmanned aerial vehicle observed two armed criminals who were providing over-watch on a vehicle route, and were believed to be triggermen for an improvised explosive device. A Multinational Division Baghdad aerial weapons team was called into the area and fired a Hellfire missile, killing the two criminals. Soldiers on the ground verified the IED's locationand safely removed it as a threat. A short time later, Multinational Baghdad operators of an unmanned aerial vehicle positively identified two armed criminals and engaged them with a Hellfire missile, killing both.

-- During an operation east of Samarra, a terrorist approached coalition forces and detonated a suicide vest, killing himself. Another terrorist at the location moved to a tactical position and refused to follow the interpreter's instructions to surrender. Coalition forces, perceiving hostile intent from the terrorist, engaged and killed him. Seven suspected terrorists were detained during the coordinated operations.

-- Coalition forces went to a location northwest of Balad searching for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq senior leader. A man in the targeted building refused to comply with the interpreter's instructions and moved to a hidden position. When he refused to surrender, coalition forces perceived hostile intent and engaged the terrorist, killing him.

-- Four suspected terrorists were detained during a coalition operation in Yusufiyah targeting a close associate of an al-Qaida in Iraq leader in the southern belt around Baghdad. West of Baghdad, coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists while targeting an al-Qaida in Iraq leader whose group is suspected of instigating sectarian violence and facilitating attacks against coalition forces.

-- A Multinational Division Baghdad unmanned aerial vehicle killed two Iranian-backed "special groups" criminals in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.

-- Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Police Division, seized a munitions cache in Baghdad's West Rashid district. The Iraqi police seized blocks of C4 explosive and 107 mm rockets.

During April 25 operations:

-- Soldiers from the 5th Iraqi Army Division, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained 17 suspected al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists in the Sadiyah villages of Sama and Rabia. The patrol also confiscated more than 30 SPG-9 rounds, 40 various types of mortars and more than 100 mortar fuses. An anti-tank mine and an IED were also found and destroyed on site.

-- Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team seized homemade explosives and various materials used for making IEDs while conducting a cordon-and-search operation within the Bayaa community.

-- Quick Reaction Force 1 from the 1st Iraqi Army Quick Reaction Force began the latest stage of Operation Charge of the Knights. The last stage of the operation included clearing and searching homes in Huteen. The searches turned up several weapons caches including mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenades and launchers, and IEDs.

-- The Fallujah Special Weapons and Tactics unit, advised by U.S. Special Operations forces, detained one insurgent cell leader and eight others in an operation northeast of Karma. The cell leader is suspected of planning and launching IED attacks against coalition forces in the area and recruiting others to join his terrorist network.

-- Coalition forces killed four al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists and detained two other terrorists during an operation to disrupt al-Qaida in Iraq networks near Samarra and Quaraysh. Intelligence identified four terrorists traveling in a vehicle east of Samarra. When coalition forces pursued and attempted to detain the vehicle, two terrorists exited the vehicle carrying assault rifles and grenades. Coalition forces engaged, killing two and detaining two other terrorists. Another vehicle with alleged terrorists inside was stopped near Quaraysh. When the terrorists resisted capture and displayed hostile intent, the coalition forces engaged and killed them.

During April 24 operations:

-- A tip led soldiers from 4th Company, 4th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, to a cache of IED-making materials southwest of Yusifiyah. The cache included 19 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, 15 hand grenades, 10 60 mm mortar rounds, four cases of .50-caliber ammunition, one case of machine gun ammunition, 10 handheld radios, eight switch boxes and multiple trigger components.

-- In the Jazeera Desert, 2nd Iraqi Army Division soldiers conducted a cordon-and-search operation to identify insurgent lines of communication in the area. During the patrol, ground forces saw a truck that appeared to be stuck in the sand. The two individuals in the truck were told to dismount. The two men dismounted the vehicle for a few seconds, but quickly returned to the truck and began shooting at the Iraqi soldiers with AK-47 assault rifles. Iraqi soldiers returned fire and killed both individuals. One Iraqi soldier also was killed during the firefight.

-- In western Ninevah province, 3rd Iraqi Army Division soldiers detained three suspects during a cordon-and-search patrol.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Forces Kill, Capture Dozens of Enemy Fighters

American Forces Press Service

April 20, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed or captured dozens of terrorists and criminal militia members during multiple engagements in Iraq yesterday, military officials said. In Suq Ash Shuyukh, southeast of Nasiriyah, Iraq, a combined force of more than 300 Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police and Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics personnel, advised by U.S. special operations forces, killed 40 criminal militia members and arrested an additional 40 after the Iraqi forces were attacked by the militia members.

Using assault rifles and automatic weapons, the criminal militia attacked Iraqi Security Forces in the morning. Regional police and Army forces on alert in the area responded in force, overwhelming the outnumbered criminal militia fighters.

Facing a combination of armored vehicles and suppressive fire, the criminals retreated to a building that contained the local Sadr Trend office. With Iraqi special weapons and tactics personnel providing support, additional security forces launched a counter attack, overrunning the remaining enemy defenses. The ISF entered the building and cleared it of the remaining criminals.

During the sweep of the building, ISF found a large weapons cache containing explosively formed penetrators, Katyusha rockets, rocket propelled grenade launchers and a large quantity of additional weapons and ammunition. An explosive ordnance disposal team also found several improvised explosive devices rigged to explode inside the building. All weapons were destroyed on site.

Many local Iraqis witnessed the fighting and thanked the ISF for their bravery and willingness to defend their town.

"The response of the combined ISF force represented an incredible leap forward by Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army to conduct joint operations," said a U.S. Special Operations Forces advisor. "Iraqi police and Iraqi Army executed a counter attack against a determined enemy and quickly gained control of the situation."

The operation was part of the Iraqi government's continuing fight against terrorists, insurgents and criminals standing in the way of a safe and secure Iraq. In recent months, ISF personnel have assumed greater autonomy to plan and conduct these types of operations unilaterally or with Coalition forces.

In eastern Baghdad, a Multinational Division Baghdad aerial weapons teams, or AWT, killed seven criminals as ground forces seized weapons in separate incidents.

Around 6:30 p.m., the AWT located two criminals transporting weapons in Sadr City district, in the eastern section of the Iraqi capital. The AWT engaged them with a Hellfire missile, killing both criminals and destroying two machine guns.

About two hours later, criminals using small-arms fire attacked coalition forces. The troops returned fire, killing one.

Elsewhere in Sadr City around the same time, a separate coalition unit retaliated against another group of criminals mounting an attack. Troops killed one criminal in the engagement.

At around 9:40 p.m., a separate AWT identified four weapons crates in an open Sadr City field of the district. The AWT engaged and destroyed the crates.

In a separate incident about thirty minutes later, an AWT fired a Hellfire missile at three criminals with weapons, killing them.

Earlier in the day, during a morning raid in southern Sadr City, soldiers of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment seized a weapons cache in a fire station. The cache included more than a dozen AK-47 rifles with multiple loaded magazines, a machine gun with magazines, more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as various miscellaneous weapons parts.

"We are making a statement with these engagements," said Army Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a spokesman for Multinational Division Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division. "Criminals violating the Rule of Law by committing violent acts or with the intent of committing violence will be targeted."

In eastern Baghdad around 3 a.m., an AWT was conducting an aerial surveillance patrol when the crew saw two criminals with a mortar tube. The AWT engaged them with a Hellfire missile, killed both criminals. The missile also demolished the mortar tube.

The successful operation came on the heels of numerous mortar and rockets attacks that originated from eastern Baghdad the previous two days, military officials said.

"Our primary mission is to protect the Iraqi people from terrorists and criminals," Stover said. "This we will do in order to enforce the rule of law in full partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces."

Elsewhere in Iraq yesterday, Operation Saulat al Fursan, or "Charge of the Knights," began a new phase of operations around Basra.

Phase three of the operation focuses on the criminal militia strongholds within the Hyyaniyah district area. Iraqi Army soldiers of the 1st and 14th infantry divisions are conducting the deliberate clearance operation, military officials said.

The operation began at approximately 6 a.m., when British artillery and U.S. aircraft fired ordnance against known criminal rocket and mortar sites west of Hyyaniyah.

British and American Military Transition Teams are working alongside Iraqi Army units to provide leaders with advice, access to surveillance and the ability to "call for fire" and other support, if needed.

"As with the earlier phases of Operation Charge of the Knights, this remains an Iraqi-led, planned and executed mission," said Maj. Tom Holloway, the British Army's spokesman in southern Iraq. "Coalition troops are ready to provide support to Iraqi Security Forces as requested and required."

Operation Charge of the Knights began on March 24.

During a recent reconnaissance patrol in the Jazeera Desert, coalition forces discovered and destroyed two al-Qaeda in Iraq weapons caches.

The caches included more than 125 improvised explosive device components, such as blasting caps, batteries, pressure plates, cordless phone chargers, IED trigger circuits, steel IED canisters, copper plates and springs.

These are the second and third weapons caches troops have found in the Jazeera Desert in less than a month. Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams destroyed both caches.

"We are continuing our efforts to disrupt AQI's networks and degrade their ability to carry out attacks against innocent Iraqi civilians and Iraqi and coalition forces," said Army Col. Bill Buckner, a Multinational Corps Iraq spokesman, referring to al-Qaeda in Iraq.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Iraqi SWAT Team Nabs Six Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

April 9, 2008 - A Baqouba-based Iraqi special weapons and tactics unit advised by U.S. Special Forces soldiers captured six terrorists in Iraq's Shilbah village yesterday. The SWAT team targeted al-Qaida in Iraq fighters in the village who were using the area as a base for bomb and small-arms attacks against Iraqi security forces and as a prison and meeting place.

In other Iraq operations, Iraqi special operations forces killed 14 and captured a dozen suspected terrorists and Iranian-backed "special group" members in Basra in the past week, military officials reported. The suspects reportedly are responsible for attacks against Iraqi security forces. During the operations, Iraqi special operations troops cleared more than 30 buildings and destroyed nine homemade bombs.

Also in Iraq:

-- Coalition forces found a homemade-bomb-making facility in Diyala province yesterday. A U.S. Air Force F-16 destroyed the facility with a 500-pound bomb.

-- Iraqi soldiers found a weapons cache holding nearly 300 mortar rounds near Rushdi Mullah on April 7. Forces recovered 60 mm, 120 mm and smaller mortar rounds, three rocket-propelled-grenade warheads, two cinderblock improvised explosive devices, and fuses.

-- U.S. Special Forces soldiers destroyed an al-Qaida in Iraq training camp and large weapons cache in operations last week in the Jazeera Desert. A former radar station was used for the site. The cache included more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition, surface-to-air missiles, machine guns, rockets, dynamite, suicide-vest charges, hand grenades, mortar rounds and tubes, one rocket-propelled-grenade launcher and warheads, and homemade explosives materials. Forces called for air strikes to destroy the compound and the cache.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq releases.)

Troops Kill 14 Suspected Terrorists in Iraq, Capture 49 Others

American Forces Press Service

April 2, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 14 suspected terrorists, detained 49 others, and seized dozens of weapons in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said. In Baghdad and Qayyarah today, coalition forces detained a dozen suspected terrorists during raids targeting al Qaeda in Iraq operations, including propaganda and suicide-bombing networks. In addition, troops captured two foreign fighter aides and an additional suspect in the operations.

In a separate operation in the Iraqi capital today, coalition forces captured two suspected terrorists tied to a Baghdad car-bombing network. In other raids, troops nabbed two suspected terrorists east of Taji, two in Mosul and three others in Samarra.

"Al Qaeda in Iraq is an adaptive, barbaric enemy, but they will be allowed no safe haven," said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "Iraqi and coalition forces will continue to disrupt their networks and capture or kill their members, improving security for all Iraqis."

During operations in Iraq yesterday:

-- A Hillah special weapons and tactics unit advised by U.S. Special Forces soldiers detained 20 suspected vehicle smugglers in Basra. In addition, the Hillah unit recovered two illegal sedans, various guns and ammunition, and $262,000 in U.S. currency. The combined force also destroyed two boats used for smuggling goods in the oil-rich southern Iraq city.

-- Iraqi security forces and U.S. Special Forces soldiers detained a suspected improvised-explosive-device-cell leader allegedly responsible for IED and indirect-fire attacks against Logistics Support Area Anaconda.

-- The Mosul Iraqi special weapons and tactics unit and U.S. Special Forces soldiers in Mosul detained a suspected terrorist allegedly involved in kidnapping, torturing and murdering local Iraqi security force members.

-- Members of the "Sons of Iraq" citizens security group stopped a suicide bomber from detonating his explosive device in Kirkuk province. A military official said their actions prevented "a possible tragedy" from occurring on Hawijah's Market Street.

-- Iraqi army and coalition soldiers discovered 15 weapons caches in Diyala and Salah ad Din provinces, and an IED factory in Ninewah. The caches contained more than 60 mortar rounds, 14 107 mm rockets, small-arms munitions, and more than 60 pounds of bomb-making material. The IED factory contained more than 3,500 pounds of additional explosives.

Iraqi special operation forces, advised by their U.S. counterparts, killed 14 criminals March 31 during operations in Basra. The Iraqi-led mission aimed to capture the criminals in an abandoned school that lawbreakers were using to mount operations and store weapons and munitions, military officials said.

Iraqi forces received small-arms fire throughout the operation. Both Iraqi and U.S. forces returned fire, while a coalition aircraft provided close-air support requested by ground forces. The combined forces killed 14 armed individuals and rescued six Iraqi security force members who were being held at the compound.

Elsewhere in Iraq March 31, Iraqi national police members detained three suspected insurgents in the New Baghdad district of the Iraqi capital. The suspects were attempting to smuggle weapons in their vehicle, military officials said. Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, reported Iraqi national police confiscated five rockets, two mortar rounds, two hand grenades, three blasting caps and a 9 mm pistol. The detainees are being held for further questioning.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq and Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)