Iraq Update

An update of events being reported from Iraq

In Eastern Baghdad Iraqi National Police apprehend kidnappers, save student -

Iraqi National Police officials arrested three suspected kidnappers and saved a university student near the Turakmen club in eastern Baghdad Jan. 1.

Acting on a tip, National Police Col. Hasseeb Kareem, 3rd Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd Division, issued an order for officers manning National Police checkpoints to be on the look out for suspects in a green Toyota sedan with a possible kidnapping victim in their vehicle. Alert National Policemen at a checkpoint near the Turakmen club spotted the vehicle and forced the vehicle to halt when the driver refused to voluntarily stop the car.

A meeting between sheiks and military personnel leads to info on al-Qaeda in Iraq (Baghdad) –

In a vital and encouraging boost to the efforts against al-Qaeda in Iraq, local sheiks met with Coalition Forces to discuss cooperation and future Concerned Local Citizen programs Jan. 4.

Sheiks from areas surrounding Sayafia spoke with Multi-National Division – Center commanders Col. Terry Ferrell, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, and Col. Dan Ball, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div., Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

During the event, sheiks introduced themselves to Ferrell and Ball, relaying to both leaders some of the crimes and injustices that al-Qaeda had perpetrated.

Militia members violating al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr’s cease fire pledge were captured by Coalition forces and a Special Groups leader; four other suspects were detained –

Coalition forces captured a suspected Special Groups leader and detained three other suspects early today during operations to disrupt criminal networks in the Baghdad area.

The targeted individual was reportedly a Baghdad Special Groups leader who facilitated the training of numerous criminals in activities including murders and kidnappings. The wanted individual was also reported to be an associate of other senior-level criminal element leaders involved in attacks on Coalition forces.

In other operations coalition forces disrupted al-Qaeda in Iraq operations resulting in three killed and 28 detained–

Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 28 suspects yesterday and today during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq networks in central and northern Iraq.

East of Mahmudiyah today, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for the network in Arab Jabour. The targeted individual is reportedly responsible for an attack in Hawr Rajjab in November that killed two Iraqi police members.

Operation Warrior Harvest allowed Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces to find several caches and detain terrorist near Kirkuk –

The 1-10th Mountain Division's 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, along with the Iraqi Army searched Iraqi farmlands for caches and other evidence of terrorist activity as part of Operation Courage Harvest Jan. 2 through 5.

The 2-22 Inf.’s mission was a smaller part of a brigade-level operation the 1-10th Mtn. Div. is conducting called Warrior Harvest. The intent is to disrupt terrorist activity in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq where the brigade is deployed so citizens feel safer and emboldened to rise up against terrorists living among them.

While operating in the Zararaniyah and Diyala areas Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained an extremist cell leader and 3 suspected extremists –

Iraqi Special Operations Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a known extremist cell leader and three additional suspected extremists Jan. 7 in the Zafaraniyah and Diyala areas of Baghdad.

The known extremist is said to lead a cell believed to be behind numerous improvised explosive device and indirect fire attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces as well as a wide range of criminal activities including kidnapping and murder.

And the enemy is expanding their bombing capabilities even including entire buildings in the mix. Thankfully this HBIED was found and destroyed in Busayefi –

Coalition Forces destroyed a house-borne improvised explosive device in Busayefi with precision fires Jan. 2.

Company B, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, discovered command detonation wires leading from the house to a canal nearby.

Concerned Local Citizens reported a separate IED north of the house made from two oxygen tanks with a crush wire detonator.

Great work men!

Thank you all for working to make Iraq a safe place.

Trackbacked / Linked by:
GWOT [Global War on Terror] Update - Itself Updated on the 8th from Pros and Cons