War update Sat. Dec. 2 to Tues. Dec. 5

Tuesday, 05 December 2006


Insurgents attack MND-B patrol, killing one Soldier -- BAGHDAD – Insurgents attacked a Multi-National Division - Baghdad patrol Dec. 4, killing one Soldier and wounding five others.
The patrol was conducting operations to deny enemy movements and enforce curfew restrictions in a northeastern neighborhood of the city when it was attacked.


Coalition forces capture suspected insurgent leader in Baghdad raid -- BAGHDAD – Coalition forces captured six suspects Dec. 4 during a raid in the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad.One of the suspects captured is believed to be an insurgent with ties to the Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist network. He is a local tribal leader who is believed to have ordered attacks against Iraqi civilians and Coalition forces.

Insurgents attack MND-B patrol, killing one Soldier -- BAGHDAD – Insurgents attacked a Multi-National Division - Baghdad patrol Dec. 4, killing one Soldier and wounding five others. The patrol was conducting operations to deny enemy movements and enforce curfew restrictions in a northeastern neighborhood of the city when it was attacked.


Monday, 04 December 2006


Iraqi Police, Army team up with paratroopers, discover threeweapon caches -- FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraqi – Iraqi police and Iraqi armytroops teamed up with paratroopers from 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25thInfantry Division, to discovered three large weapons caches Dec. 3.The first cache was discovered in the town of Bahbahani, Iraq, outside ofMusayyib. It contained 15 rockets, 30 mortar fuses, one sniper rifle, 15 rocket-propelledgrenades, one rocket propelled-grenade launcher, one tripod, one mortar tube, and two60mm mortar rounds.
Once the joint patrol discovered the cache, they halted the patrol andimmediately cordoned off the area. An explosive ordnance disposal team was alertedand destroyed the cache.The second cache was discovered north of Karbala. It contained two mortarfuses, two mortar charges, one machine gun with one belt of ammo, one sub-machinegun with seven magazines, several grenade fuses, artillery fuses, blasting caps, and skimasks.The third cache was uncovered south of Baghdad and contained 100 mortar rounds.

TWO TERRORISTS KILLED, SIX DETAINED IN N. BAGHDAD RAID -- BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed two terrorists, detained six suspected terrorists, and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device during a raid Monday morning in northern Baghdad.
Intelligence reports identified the location of a suspected terrorist with ties to the al-Qaida in Iraq network and the production of VBIEDs.
As ground forces entered the targeted buildings, they were confronted by two armed terrorists. The ground forces killed both terrorists.
While clearing the buildings, ground forces discovered a VBIED and they destroyed the vehicle on the scene so it could not be used by terrorists. They also seized a cache consisting of numerous types of ammunition, including 13 artillery rounds, several AK-47's, and small arms ammunition.
Before leaving the scene, ground forces detained six suspected terrorists.

Two Soldiers killed, two others wounded -- TIKRIT, Iraq - Two Task Force Lightning Soldiers, assigned to 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, were killed and two others were wounded from an explosion near their vehicle that occurred while they were conducting operations in Multi-National Division – North, Dec. 3.The two wounded Soldiers were transported to Coalition Forces' medical treatment facilities.

Soldiers unearth weapons cache on outskirts of Baghdad -- BAGHDAD – A large weapons cache was discovered Dec. 2 at a farmhouse in the neighborhood of Bayaa on the outskirts of Baghdad by Soldiers from Co. A, 9th Engineers, part of Task Force 1-18, currently attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. The Soldiers were conducting a routine patrol of the area when their lead vehicle hit a roadside bomb. None of the Soldiers were injured during the explosion, and while they were clearing the area, they came across a wire which led them to a small farmhouse and the weapons cache. After following the wire back to the farmhouse, the engineers focused their attention on three vehicles parked in the yard. According to Coos Bay, Ore. native, Sgt. David Baker, the engineers quickly discovered that the cars contained explosives, and it was when they took cover in the nearby building, that they discovered the first of what turned out to be a large cache of weapons. “There was one false wall that contained a lot of munitions but other than that everything was strewn around inside the house,” Staff Sgt. Edward Simon, a platoon sergeant from Pensacola, Fla. explained of the scene. Among the weapons found were two surface-to-air missiles, five improvised rocket launchers, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 18 hand grenades, more than 140 mortar rounds, three heavy machine guns, two sniper rifles, five AK-47 rifles, three car bombs in various stages of completion, small arms munitions, various bomb-making components, and documents. The executive officer for Task Force 1-18, Maj. Scott Nelson, said that he wasn’t surprised by the discovery of the cache. “We know there are foreign fighter and al-Qaeda cells that are operating in this area,” the native of Columbia, S.C. said. “I think we were able to significantly disrupt al-Qaeda and anti-Iraqi forces operations in this particular sector of Baghdad,” Nelson added. In cooperation with the Iraqi National Police, the Soldiers cordoned off the area for nearly 30 hours while explosive ordinance disposal teams were brought in to assess the situation, along with heavy equipment to further excavate the land. “The INP are helping to jointly secure the outer cordon of this sensitive site and will assist in conducting some more cordon and search operations in the area,” explained Nelson. Throughout the day, police officers from the INP’s 7th Brigade, 2nd Division searched nearby houses before detaining an individual for further questioning.Lt. Col. Ali Hesen Al-Qurishi of the INP said his greatest concern was for the safety of the people, an opinion shared by the Soldiers. “Getting this stuff out of the hands of the insurgents makes a big difference,” said Simon. “It makes it safer for the Iraqi people and our Soldiers.”


Iraqi girl killed in attack on Coalition forces in al Doura -- BAGHDAD, Iraq – During an attack on Coalition forces and national police in the al Doura district Sunday, a 5-year-old Iraqi girl was shot and later died of her wounds. The girl was taken to a military hospital in the International Zone by U.S. Army medics after the Soldiers saw she was wounded. The 1st Cavalry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team Surgeon, Maj. Bruce Rivers, said medics treated her on the scene and then transported her to the Combat Surgical Hospital. Once there, Rivers said the girl received further treatment but died from the wound.

Weapons cache discovered west of Baghdad -- BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division-Baghdad troops discovered a weapons cache west of the Iraqi capital Sunday. Soldiers from Company D, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division uncovered a cache consisting of four 155mm artillery rounds; two 120mm mortar rounds; six 60mm mortar rounds; one 32mm round; one 25mm round; one 12.7mm upper receiver; five rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers; 14 RPG rounds; three RPG propellant sticks; and 500 rounds of machine gun ammunition. An explosive ordnance team was called in to the site and destroyed the weapons and munitions.


Sunday, 03 December 2006

Soldier killed by roadside bomb -- BAGHDAD – A Multi-National Corps – Iraq Soldier died from injuries sustained whenthe convoy he was traveling in struck an improvised explosive device near Taji, Iraq, atapproximately 8:30 a.m. Saturday.


Six terrorists killed, foreign fighter safe houses destroyed -- BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed six terrorists and destroyed two known foreign fighter safe houses as they conducted a raid in Gharma Saturday night. Recent intelligence reports indicated the targeted building was being used to harbor foreign fighters. Intelligence reports also verified that several men were present at the targeted building during the time of the raid. Coalition Forces determined that the use of precision fires against the building provided the greatest safety measures for both the surrounding residents and friendly forces by avoiding the possibility of stray small arms rounds during a firefight. After the air strike destroyed the building, Coalition Forces were able to determine that five terrorists, along with two women and one child, were killed.Just before the air strike occurred, ground forces witnessed several terrorists moving to a nearby building. Coalition Forces were able to clear that building, killing one other terrorist and detaining three suspected terrorists. During a search of the building, ground forces found a weapons cache consisting of numerous small arms weapons and munitions. The cache was destroyed to prevent further use by terrorists.Local villagers expressed their gratitude to Coalition Forces after the raid for “ridding the area of terrorists,” whom they claimed had killed several of the men in their village. When asked the whereabouts of her husband, one 21-year-old single mother of five children said, “The terrorists killed him.”


Soldier killed in Baghdad -- BAGHDAD – A Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldier was killed during combat operations in the Iraqi capital Dec. 3.

Patrol finds weapons cache, detains three suspects -- BAGHDAD, Iraq – During an afternoon raid on a suspected sniper hideout, troops from Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, discovered a weapons cache and detained three men suspected of being connected to sectarian murders in the vicinity of the Furat neighborhood in western Baghdad Nov. 29.At approximately 6:15 p.m., Coalition forces were patrolling the neighborhood when a man waved their convoy down. The resident told the platoon leader that he’d been shot at by a sniper. The man pointed out the house where the shots came from, noting that there was a possible weapons cache inside.Upon entering the home, the platoon found more than 100 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, two AK-47s, sniper rifle ammunition, a rocket-propelled grenade, several other machine guns, four cell phones, 75 pre-paid cell phone cards, two wire spools and bombmaking materials.Three men found inside the house were detained for possessing illegal weapons. They are suspected of having ties with sectarian militias.


Saturday, 02 December 2006


Iraqi Army, Coalition Forces secure Baqubah -- BAQUBAH, Iraq – The 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army, with support from the 1-12Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, begancoordinated offensive operations against anti-Iraqi forces in Baqubah today.Acting on intelligence reports and tips, 2/5 IA, with support from coalition forcesbased in Diyala, commenced operations aimed at terrorist cells responsible for placingimprovised explosive devices, sniper operations, kidnapping and murder in Baqubah.“This is a great indicator of the commitment of Iraqi Army officers and Soldiers toprotect and secure the people of the province,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3rd Brigade Combat Team commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala. “These operations are intelligence driven and target specific terrorist cells that are attempting to destabilize the government and economic growth in the province. Some individual targets are also responsible for instigating the sectarian violence in the province,” he continued. This operation has been carefully planned between coalition forces and Iraqi Army leaders. The intent of this operation is to eliminate the terrorist cells that are operating in areas of Baqubah, and then allow the local Iraqi Police to enforce the rule of law. Iraqi Police are currently manning many critical check points; the Iraqi Army are manning several others, and another checkpoint is manned by both IA and IP in a joint effort. These check points are used to provide security and control movements within the city limits. “This military operation is designed to separate the terrorists from the honorable people of Baqubah, and better enable the Iraqi Security Forces to maintain a secure and stable environment,” Sutherland said.


Soldier killed in Al Anbar Province -- CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – One Soldier assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Armored Division died Dec. 1 from wounds sustained due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province.


Cavalry Paratroopers find bomb-making materials and weapons in Hawr Rajab 4th BCT (Airborne), 25th I -- KALSU, Iraq – Paratroopers from the Apache Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division found ammunition and materials used in constructing improvised explosive device in a house near Hawr Rajab Dec. 1. The cache discovery came as part of Operation Artic Sunrise. The paratroopers found two weapons, ammunition, mortar and artillery ammunition fuses, ski masks and blasting caps. Part of the cache was found immediately outside the home.The weapons and munitions were destroyed in place by an explosive ordnance disposal team.

Iraqi, US forces combine to find cache, detain 12 suspects 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team -- FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – In a joint effort, the Iraqi Army supported by the 3rd Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, captured a weapons cache and detained 12 terrorist suspects Dec. 1 in Narwahan.The Soldiers were conducting a dismounted patrol to gain intelligence when they received a tip by a local resident regarding the cache. They discovered a weapons cache which included 10 AK-47 assault rifles, two machine guns, two mortar tubes including 70 60mm rounds, one illumination round, five cases of 12.7mm ammunition and 61 explosive primers. The 12 suspects were taken to a secure location for questioning.