BAGHDAD, Iraq (May 25, 2006) – Coalition forces located and killed three al-Qaida associates in the vicinity of Yusifiyah May 23 while searching for a wanted al-Qaida terrorist.
The terrorists had been driving a vehicle containing grenades and small arms. One of the terrorists was wearing a suicide vest.
While progress continued in Yusifiyah, Coalition forces killed four more terrorists and detained two during operations east of Lake Thar Thar on May 23. Upon assault, two suspects immediately surrendered. Four others who attempted to engage the forces were killed.
Coalition Forces found Yemeni, Saudi Arabian, Tunisian, Sudanese and several Iraqi passports.
No civilians were harmed during either raid.
These Coalition raids along with Iraqi Police action are helping the security situation on a daily basis, as Iraqi Police foiled a terrorist car bombing plot on May 23 near Baqubah.
The officers noticed two suspicious vehicles and began to cordon off and clear the area when the explosives in one of the vehicles were detonated. Iraqi Police quickly engaged and killed two men in the second vehicle before it also could be detonated.
An explosives ordnance disposal team from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted a controlled detonation of the second car bomb.
No civilians or security forces were injured by either explosion. (this is why you didn't read about this in the regular news, no one died.)
While Coalition and Iraqi forces are taking action to improve the security situation, Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 506th Infantry Regiment, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, captured three brigade high-value and three lower-level suspected terrorists in precision operations in Baghdad.
As part of Operation Valiant Currahee -- a brigade-level, intelligence-driven operation geared to capture leaders of terror cells -- the “Tomahawk” Soldiers, and local Iraqi Police, captured the three wanted individuals. One detainee is suspected of engineering kidnappings, murders and torture in the Zafarania area and in greater Baghdad during the last six months. In the following week, the “Tomahawks” detained three additional terrorist suspects related to the same crimes.
During the search of one suspect's home, Soldiers discovered orders appointing him as a militia chief for Zafarania. One of the other suspects is also alleged to have participated in kidnappings, murders and bombings. The third detainee is suspected of providing financing for those terrorist activities.
“We are focusing our efforts to defeat these guys,” said Capt. Robert Snyder, intelligence officer, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment. “The U.S. Army has adapted to gain intelligence on the counterinsurgency fight. We understood very early in our deployment that this would not be as much of a kinetic fight as the first stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
1st Lt. Andrew Jeser, platoon leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment., led the quick reaction force for two of the captures.
“These criminals have been killing or helping kill Iraqi security forces and American Soldiers. Bringing them in hopefully helps speed the process of providing a safer Baghdad for all Iraqis,” said Jeser.
Wow you mean there are really good things happening over there? Can't be true, has to be a lie, thats what I have been told. Iraq is a disaster! Well maybe not.... Well OK we are really helping... Well OK we are kicking butt, but the media will NEVER cover these kinds of things. It would interfer with the brainwashing of the AMerican Public they have trying to do for the last three years.
