One Week in Operations Against al-Qaeda

Al-Qaeda Is On the Ropes.

Coalition Forces along with Iraqi units are continuing to pursue al-Qaeda across Iraq forcing them into to smaller and smaller areas, while striking at their leadership. On Tuesday Iraqi forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained two individuals believed to be linked to the al-Qaeda in Iraq criminal network Oct. 2, near Baghdad.

“Soldiers from the 6th Iraqi Army Division detained a suspected al-Qaeda financier in Kindi. The extremist financier is suspected of traveling to foreign countries to cquire financial support for terrorist activities and is suspected of supplying more than $50,000 to al-Qaeda each month. He is believed to have received $100,000,000 this summer from terrorist supporters who cross the Iraq border illegally or fly into Iraq from Italy, Syria and Egypt.

The terrorist is linked to financing cells in Doura, Tarmiyah and Baqubah, and uses a leather merchant business as a front to smuggle weapons and explosives from surrounding countries. Intelligence shows he has stores in Fallujah, Syria and Jordan.”

The financier is also linked to the purchase of explosives and weapons that were used to destroy the dome of the sacred “Golden Mosque” in 2006 and then in re-attacking it in 2007. In April, the suspected terrorist allegedly shot at a Coalition patrol in Al-Mansour, killing three U.S. service members and wounding one.

On Sunday, Iraqi Security Forces, acting upon a tip received from locals, killed three known terrorists after conducting a raid in the al-Jazeera desert, 15 miles east of Tikrit.

Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division and Iraqi policemen from the Emergency Response Unit in Tikrit, killed the three known al-Qaeda terrorists and captured four more.

“We hope to conduct many more operations targeting al-Qaeda and their associates throughout Salah Ad Din,” said Maj. Gen. Hammed Nams Yaseen al-Jabouri, provincial chief of police for Salah ad Din. “It is encouraging people are coming forward and identifying these terrorists to us.”

The operation started after a tip from a local Iraqi identified a small village in the al-Jazeera desert as an al-Qaeda training camp. Suicide vests, artillery rounds commonly used to make IEDs and communications gear was also captured in the raid.

Also on Sunday units from the 3rd Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment along with Iraqi National Police conducted a raid east of Baghdad that resulted in the detention of a high-value individual.

Soldiers from Troop A and the Time-Sensitive Target platoon of the 3-1 Cav. Regt. conducted the raid with their police partners to kill or capture the HVI and to deny extremists sanctuary in the regiment’s area of operation.

The HVI is suspected of maintaining a leadership position in a local extremist network.

Regimental Officers credit the capture to their continuing efforts to engage local leaders which has resulted in greater information on suspected extremists and insurgents operating in the squadron’s area of operation.

On Wednesday and Thursday in the northern and central provinces of Iraq Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained eight suspects.

During operations in the Diyala River Valley Thursday, Coalition forces received small arms fire from a nearby mosque. Responding to the hostile threat, the ground force returned fire, killing one terrorist. Coalition forces ceased fire and called for the building's occupants to come out. Two armed individuals emerged with their hands up and were detained, and another individual fled the area.

In Samarra, Coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq associates. Intelligence reports indicated that the target area is known for being a safe haven for al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and foreign terrorists.

South of Baghdad, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq believed to be a leader in the city with ties to the car-bombing network. During the operation, the ground force destroyed one building to prevent further use by terrorists. A secondary explosion erupted from the site, indicating explosives were stored inside. One suspect was also detained during the operation.

Coalition forces conducted an operation in Hawija Wednesday, targeting an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq believed to be a leader in the media network in the al Tamim province with ties to foreign terrorists operating in the area. One suspect was detained on site.

In other areas of Iraq Coalition forces captured two wanted terrorists and detained an additional ten suspects during operations Wednesday.

In Baghdad, Coalition forces captured an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq believed to be a foreign terrorist facilitator with ties to terrorist safe houses in the region. Intelligence reports indicate that the individual is deeply connected to the foreign terrorist network and involved in the coordination of their suicide operations.

Coalition forces detained seven suspected terrorists during two coordinated operations along the Tigris River Valley. West of Samarra, ground forces targeted alleged associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq group responsible for attacks in and around Huwaish. Intelligence reports indicate that one of the individuals has ties to an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader and his security network, and has held meetings with numerous terrorists in the target area. The ground force captured one wanted individual and detained two additional suspects on site.

In another operation west of Tarmiyah, Coalition forces targeted an alleged associate of Abu Usama al-Tunisi, the former emir of the southern belt who was killed during an operation Sept. 25. The targeted individual is believed to be involved in foreign terrorist facilitation in Tarmiyah and Taji. The ground force detained four suspect terrorists on site without incident.

Farther north, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader in Kirkuk. Intelligence reports also indicate that the targeted individual has numerous connections to al-Qaeda in Iraq members operating in Mosul. The ground force detained two suspected terrorists on site in Kirkuk. Another two suspects were detained in Mosul during an operation targeting an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders in the city.

Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained two suspects during operations Monday and Tuesday targeting associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq in the central part of the country.

West of Balad Tuesday, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq member believed to be the key communications link between senior leaders of al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda in Iraq. When the ground force approached the target, they were engaged by an armed man who emerged from a vehicle. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces returned fire, killing two terrorists, and igniting the vehicle. Multiple secondary explosions erupted from the vehicle after it was engaged, indicating explosives stored inside. The nature of the explosions and detainee reporting indicated weapons and explosives were present in the vehicle. The ground force also detained one suspect on site.

Early Monday, Coalition forces discovered three men attempting to re-seed improvised explosive devices in an area where the ground force had previously destroyed several two IEDs. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged, killing one terrorist. The ground forces searched a nearby building in the same location and discovered two IED pressure plates which were safely destroyed on-site. That afternoon, surveillance elements witnessed three men emplacing several IEDs along a canal road. Again, perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces called an air strike on the time-sensitive target, killing the three terrorists.

During a two-day operation Coalition forces also discovered three significant weapons caches. Intelligence led the ground force to a local school reported to be used as an al-Qaeda in Iraq safe house and mortar team staging area. Numerous weapons and ammunition were found on site to include mortar rounds, rocket propelled grenades, pressure plates, blasting caps, and rockets reported to be used as surface-to-air weapons in field expedient rocket launchers. Near the school, Coalition forces also discovered two other large caches with similar material to include hand grenades, IED making material and a training manual. The ground force detained one suspect during the operation. All weapons were safely destroyed by the ground force.

Total count for the week:
Captured: 18
Killed: 10

Remind me again who’s losing in Iraq Mr. Reid?