MNFI Press Release - Apr 27

5 CRIMINALS KILLED DURING NIGHT OPS
Multinational aerial weapons teams (AWTs) and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) killed 5 criminals in separate air-to-ground engagements in the Sadr City district of Baghdad during the night of April 26-27th. At approximately 10 p.m. on April 26th, the operators of a UAV observed 2 armed criminals who were providing over-watch on a vehicle route, and were believed to be triggermen for an improvised explosive device (IED). A Multinational AWT was called into the area and fired one Hellfire missile, killing the two criminals. Soldiers on the ground verified the location of the IED, which was safely removed as a threat. At approximately 10:30 p.m., operators of a UAV positively identified two armed criminals and engaged them with a Hellfire missile, killing both. At approximately 1 a.m. on April 27th, the operators of a UAV observed 2 armed criminals who were providing over-watch on a vehicle route, and were believed to be triggermen for an improvised explosive device. An AWT was called into the area and fired one Hellfire missile, killing 1 of the criminals. The second left the scene prior to the AWT engagement.

27 DETAINED, BOMB-MAKING MATERIALS DESTROYED
Coalition Forces detained 27 suspected terrorists during operations on Sunday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) networks around the country. Coalition Forces conducted two operations east of Samarra targeting associates of a known AQI facilitator who is a liaison with senior terrorist leaders. Coalition Forces detained 6 suspected terrorists and discovered weapons and a building wired to explode. After moving civilians away from the area, Coalition Forces called for an airstrike to destroy the building and weapons. Samarra is located in the Salah ad-Din province, approximately 100 km northwest of Baghdad.

Coalition Forces detained 15 suspected terrorists during operations in Mosul in northern Iraq, approximately 100 km from the Turkish border. One of the suspects is believed to be an AQI leader in the city, and another is believed to be part of an illegal terrorist court system. During the operation, Coalition Forces found a building containing bomb-making materials, which they safely destroyed on site. South of Taji, Coalition Forces captured an alleged associate of AQI leaders and 5 additional suspects believed to have ties to the terrorist network in the Northern Belt around Baghdad. Taji lies just north of Baghdad.

IRAQI ARMY TAKES CONTROL OF SA'ID ABDULLAH CORRIDOR
In an effort to deal a blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) west of Mahmudiyah, the 2nd battalion, 25th brigade, 6th Iraqi Army (IA) Division established permanent battle positions in the Sa'id Abdullah Corridor (SAC) on April 24th. "Until only a few short weeks ago, this road was an area where American and Iraqi Soldiers only went expecting a fight," said Capt. Dennis Call, from Albuquerque, NM, leader of 4th Platoon, Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). "In the past, we did a number of air assault raids, dismount patrols - always on the edge, knowing the history of the area." No one knows better than Spc. Roy Corpier, a team chief with 4th Platoon, Battery A, 3-320 FA. Corpier, a native of Sedalia, Missouri, stepped on a pressure-plate improvised explosive device in November, losing hearing in his right ear. "Any time we went into the SAC we could expect to get into something," Corpier said. "The operation over the past couple weeks has silenced AQI in the area."

After the IA completed clearing operations on April 15th in support of Operation Marne Piledriver, they made preparations to control and secure the area on a permanent basis. The Soldiers established battle positions to guard lines of commerce and serve as an operations base for missions into the surrounding area. "I wouldn't have expected to be setting up out here," said 2nd Lt. Mohammed Shakur, 2/25/6 IA Div. "I find it amazing how much safer this area has become, and only in a few weeks time." After months of intensive kinetic operations into the SAC, the completion of battle positions throughout the heart of what used to be an AQI area of support is significant, but not the final step. "This is only the start," Call said. "For this to actually work, patrols need to constantly move out from the battle position and engage the populace on a regular basis." The following weeks will see an influx of IA support to the populace as the area takes advantage of the newfound security and begins to rebuild.

SOI TURNS OVER WEAPONS CACHE SOUTH OF BAGHDAD
Sons of Iraq (SOI) members reported finding a cache, which consisted of (47) 57-mm projectiles, (2) propane tanks filled with homemade explosives and (1) rocket, at the Maskar Bunker Complex in Arab Jabour. Projectiles like those recovered have been used in the recent past to make pressure-plate IEDs, said Capt. William Lyles, assistant operations officer for 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. This is the third time in a week SOI have turned munitions over to Coalition Forces at Combat Outpost Murray, including a 500-pound bomb turned in on April 24th, said Lyles, a native of Hampton, Virginia. "The SOI have contributed greatly to the improved security in the Arab Jabour area," Lyles said. "Their tips and intelligence have led to the arrest of several al-Qaeda in Iraq insurgents. They're truly doing everything they can to work toward long-term stability in the area." The weapons will be destroyed at a later date

IA SOLDIERS DETAIN 17 AQI SUSPECTS, FIND CACHE
Soldiers from 5th Iraqi Army (IA) Division, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained 17 suspected AQI terrorists in the as-Sa'diyah villages of Sama and Rabia on April 25th. The IA soldiers conducted a cordon and search patrol of the area in order to disrupt terrorist activities. During the patrol, 17 men believed to be AQI members were detained for questioning. The patrol also confiscated more than (30) SPG-9 rounds, (40) various types of mortars and over (100) mortar fuses. An anti-tank mine and an IED were also found and destroyed on site.