Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Centcom Press Release - Apr 08

COALITION DETAINS SUSPECTED SPECIAL GROUPS CRIMINAL
Coalition forces detained a suspected Iranian-backed Special Groups criminal and two other suspects early on the morning of Thursday, April 3rd in the al-Hillah area, south of Baghdad. Reports indicate the targeted suspect planned to assassinate Hillah police leaders and attempted to gather intelligence for Special Groups attacks to disrupt security in the area. He is also suspected of distributing $100,000 to Special Groups cells south of Baghdad.

During the operation, while the ground force was moving to the target area, unknown individuals fired upon Coalition forces, who returned fire in self-defense. A Coalition force helicopter also engaged the unknown individuals. One vehicle was destroyed, several structures were damaged, and three civilians were reportedly wounded. The incident is under investigation at this time. When the ground force arrived at the target area, they captured the targeted individual and two other suspects without further incident.

ISF KILL 7 CRIMINALS, DETAIN 16 IN BASRA
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), advised by U.S. Special Forces, killed seven criminal members and detained 16 others during three separate operations in Basra directed by the Government of Iraq on Thursday, April 3rd. Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) captured a suspected Special Groups leader who has been rallying criminal members in Basra to fight against Coalition forces. Intelligence reports have linked the man to the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi Army and ISOF soldiers. He is also believed to be involved in oil smuggling and foreign fighter networks.

During the operation, ISOF received heavy small-arms fire and two Coalition force vehicles struck improvised explosive devices (IEDs). One IED temporarily disabled a vehicle while the other IED was ineffective. ISOF killed five armed fighters and detained 10 others during the operation. The Hillah Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics (ISWAT) team conducted an operation to deny insurgent operations in Basra. During the operation, the team came under small-arms attack and returned fire while a Coalition force aircraft provided close-air support. Two armed individuals who were firing on ISWAT were killed. Three others were detained.

In a third operation in Basra, an Iraqi Emergency Response Unit captured two suspected members of a criminal cell linked to an ambush attempt against U.S. Special Forces soldiers on Wednesday, April 2nd. Three other suspects are being held for further questioning.

COALITION FORCES CONDUCT AIRSTRIKE, 6 CRIMINALS KILLED
Coalition aircraft conducted a precision strike on a vehicle equipped with a heavy machine gun in al-Halaf on Wednesday, April 2nd, destroying the vehicle and killing six armed criminals. After receiving reports of heavy machine gun fire, Coalition forces employed an unmanned aerial vehicle to observe, confirm and conduct the airstrike on the vehicle. Six armed criminals were confirmed killed in the precision airstrike. "Coalition forces are providing aircraft support for Iraqi Security Forces in Basra on an as-requested basis," said Navy Lt. Michael Street, MNF-I spokesman. "We will continue to work with the Government of Iraq to provide a secure and stable environment in Iraq."

COALITION FORCES KILL 2 CRIMINALS IN BASRA AIRSTRIKE
Coalition aircraft conducted a precision strike on a house in Basra on Wednesday, April 2nd, killing two criminals. While conducting operations in support of Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition forces were attacked with small-arms fire by two criminals on a rooftop. The ground force called in supporting aircraft to engage the individuals. An F/A-18 carried out a precision airstrike on the house, and Coalition forces on site confirmed that two enemy were killed in the airstrike. Coalition forces are unaware of any civilians killed in the strike but are currently looking into the matter. "Coalition forces continue to provide tactical overwatch with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, and support aircraft, on an as-requested basis from Iraqi Security Forces in Basra," said Cmdr. Scott Rye, MNF-I spokesman. "We go to extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of civilians when conducting operations, unlike criminal elements, who consistently put innocent civilians at risk."

15 CACHES, IED FACTORY DISCOVERED IN NORTHERN IRAQ
Iraqi Army and Coalition Soldiers discovered 15 weapons caches and an IED factory in northern Iraq on Tuesday, April 1st. The weapons and ammunition discovered included (1) 155mm and (3) 120mm rounds, (1) 122mm Illumination round, (14) 107mm rockets, (58) 82mm and (12) 60mm mortars, along with other small-arms munitions. More than 60 pounds of explosives and IED-making materials were also discovered among the caches, while the IED factory contained more than 3,500 pounds of additional explosives. The caches were found in both Diyala and Salah ad Din Provinces, and the IED factory was discovered in Ninewah. "The joint efforts between the Iraqi Army and CF are paying off," said Maj. Dan Meyers, spokesman for Multi-National Division - North. "These continued finds will no doubt help to keep the people of Iraq safe."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), advised by U.S. Special Forces, killed seven criminal members..."

"Coalition aircraft conducted a precision strike on a vehicle equipped with a heavy machine gun in al-Halaf on Wednesday, April 2nd, destroying the vehicle and killing six armed criminals."


The only good terrorist...

Anonymous said...

See, Hawkeye, it works like this. If by taking action against al Qaeda on the many fronts (which include Iraq and Afghanistan) that President Bush has set America on the course to do in defense of what is left of the free-world/western-civilization, and it becomes successful in reducing the potential number of jihadists as well as disrupt their command structure, the brilliant critics on the others side of the aisle will yap, "See, al Qaeda was never that big of threat in the first place. Bu$Hitler lied to the American people about the threat of Islamic radicalism and he and the rest of the neo-cons made it all up just for some payback for the botched attempt on his daddy's life by Saddam ... blah, blah, blah."

But whenever a story comes out from the liberal media how al Qaeda still poses security risks in America, England, Iraq, etc., then these anti-war geniuses play the other side of the "argument" and whine, "See, Shrubya stirred up a hornet's nest. It would have been better to have left them alone so the problem could have gone away. The chickens came home to roost, we deserved what we got on 9/11, yada, yada, yada."

It's never, "Gee, maybe I'm the moron here and maybe the cons were right all along and the only way to deal with militant Islamists is to take the war to them by establishing a bridgehead right in the middle of the freaking Middle East simultaneoulsy surrounding Iran by American forces who are still kicking Islamofascist arses in the sandbox. Maybe that's why we haven't been attacked here in the USA since 9/11."

Do ya think?

Hankmeister

Hawkeye® said...

Camo,
Read you loud and clear good buddy. Roger that. Over and out...

Hawkeye® said...

Hank,
We played defense for a long time, and all we got for our trouble was the African embassy bombings, the U.S.S. Cole, and 9/11. You know what they say, "The best defense is a good offense". I'm glad we're kicking some butt for a change.