They fight terrorism together and net results...
In the last few days there has been a upturn in the combined forces having success against the terrorist that have been attacking forces in Iraq, to include Coalition, U.S. and Iraqi Troops. Several of the TF Bagdad Brigades conducted sweeps through their patrol areas in cooperation with and alongside Iraqi Security Forces. During these sweeps, TF Bagdad sources report that at least 41 terrorist were captured and several killed. Included in these numbers were 10 terrorist suspected in having taken part in the April 22nd downing of a civilian MI-8 helicopter.
As part of their operations that were conducted the TF unit came in contact with several IED's. Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, Task Force Bagdad spokesperson stated that "In the past 24hours, Task Force Bagdad has encountered seven IEDs, four of which were discovered and disarmed without incident or injury." Something most people are not aware of is the success that FT units are having with finding and disarming these IEDs before they are detonated or cause any damage. And it is reported by TF sources that even when they do detonate, "more than half cause no damage or injury."
Iraqi Forces continue to work with TF Bagdad Units and are taking the forefront in many operations. “Despite some high-profile enemy attacks this week, the Coalition continued to strengthen its partnership with its Iraqi counterparts,” said Col. Brian Stephenson, Multinational Corps-Iraq chief of operations. “The Iraqi Government and its Security Forces demonstrated their initiative to lead the counter-insurgency fight by conducting a raid on the Anti-Iraqi Force held in the Baghdad suburb of Salman Pak and re-establishing the police station and permanent police presence.” he added commenting on the working relationship the Forces have with each other.
The numbers are staggering, in the past week citizen tips aided coalition forces in uncovering four major weapons caches. The caches contained more than 2.5 million anti-aircraft rounds, 900 mortar rounds, two 250-pound Russian made bombs, 75 anti-tank mines and 225 pounds of TNT, as well as hundreds of hand grenades, rocket propelled grenades, ammunition and bomb making materials.
Conducting more than 2,500 patrols across Iraq, Coalition and ISF forces have detained hundreds of terrorists suspected of being connected to weapons caches and other terrorist activities. Some specific successes are:
April 18 in Kirkuk, a terrorist cell leader and 12 others were detained for leading a local cell and financing attacks against ISF and Coalition forces.
April 19 in Tikrit, Coalition forces working with Ministry of Interior Police commandos, detained two individuals suspected of trafficking weapons and financing attacks in the Samarra area.
April 20, 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers arrested two terrorists in Baghdad suspected of plotting and carrying out numerous murders of Iraqi civilians employed on Coalition forward operating bases. Northeast of Baghdad, security forces raided a terrorist safe house which contained several thousand kilograms of bomb-making materials. In Northern Iraq, 42 suspected terrorists were detained.
April 23, the 3rd Infantry Division apprehended six terrorists suspected of being involved in Thursday’s fatal downing of a Mi-8 helicopter and murder of the only crash survivor.
In other places in Iraq operations by Forces resulted in more than 30 raids and 20 searches. During which 17 weapons caches were found, 30 IEDs were found and destroyed without injury or damage, and more than 260 suspected terrorist were detained.
Col. Bill Buckner, spokesman for the Multi-National Coalition I summed up the view of many of the units leaders, he stated “If those terrorists who are building IEDs and attacking innocent civilians and security forces would spend one hundredth of their energy on building a free and peaceful Iraq, this country would quickly become a leader in this part of the world,”
I will continue to bring you updated news as I get it and as it can be reviewed.