MNFI Press Release - Nov 8

TIPS LEAD IP, SOLDIERS TO WEAPONS
Iraqi Policemen (IP) and Multinational Division - Baghdad (MND-B) Soldiers seized weapons caches in and around the Baghdad area on November 7th. Iraqi Policemen on a joint mission with the 411th Military Police Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, discovered a cache north of Baghdad at approximately 11AM. The items included 1,280 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, (2) AK-47s, (1) .22-caliber pistol, and a pair of binoculars. A tip from a concerned citizen led to the seizure of a 120 mm mortar round and an oxygen tank by Iraqi policemen north of Baghdad at approximately 6PM. At approximately 7:15PM, a local citizen turned in seven fragmentary hand grenades he found in an open field to MND-B Soldiers at Joint Security Station Ameriyah in the Mansour district of Baghdad. The citizen advised them of a cache in the area.

Soldiers serving with Troop C, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), seized a cache at approximately 12:30AM on November 8th. The munitions included (1) Dragonov rifle with scope, (9) sticks of explosives, (5) 82 mm mortars, (5) Dragonov magazines, (7) rocket-propelled grenade propellants, (1) 82 mm illumination round, (1) rocket of unknown size, (10) artillery fuses, (3) canisters of C4, (7) rifle grenade rods, (4) grenade fuses, (21) MP5 magazines, (3) PKC belts of ammunition, (5) M-203 rounds, (125) sniper rounds, (1) M-19 round, (3) project boxes, (100) feet of detonation cord, (1) spool of wire, (1) periscope, (1) RPG site, (1) potential pipe bomb, (1) washing machine timer with blasting cap and (2) wireless doorbell clickers.

“Iraqi citizens continue to step to the forefront and provide valuable information in removing these weapons from the hands of those who would cause them harm,” said Lt. Colonel Steve Stover, spokesman, MND–B and the 4th Infantry Division.

COALITION DESTROYING AQI; CAPTURE 22
During another round of devastating blows to al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) networks, Coalition Forces captured 22 suspects on Friday and Saturday throughout Iraq.

On Friday, forces operating in the vicinity of Tikrit, about 160 km north of Baghdad, targeted terrorist networks in the Tigris River Valley. One man believed to be associated with a local terrorist leader was detained for additional questioning. In Kirkuk, Coalition forces captured one wanted man believed to have ties with AQI leaders in the region. Four additional suspects were detained during the operation. About 160 km south of Mosul in the village of Bayji, forces detained three men assessed to have connections to a suspected terrorist associated with the city’s improvised explosive device networks.

On Saturday, AQI foreign terrorist facilitation networks were hit hard again. A suspected terrorist (who reports suggest smuggles foreign terrorists and weapons into Iraq) was captured by Coalition forces during an operation outside of Mosul. Two additional suspects were detained for further questioning. Coalition Forces continued to pressure AQI car bomb and suicide bomber networks. In Al Yusifiyah, about 35 km southwest of Baghdad, Coalition Forces targeted and captured a suspected terrorist believed to be associated with car bomb terrorists. Four additional suspects were detained during the operation. Finally, forces captured two suspected AQI operatives in Baghdad who are reportedly involved in the city’s suicide bomber operations. Three more suspects were also detained for further questioning.

COMBINED OP KILLS SENIOR AQI LEADER
A senior AQI leader was killed on November 6th, during a combined cache-clearing operation by Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and a ‘Sons of Iraq’ (SoI) citizen security group, supported by Coalition Forces, military officials reported. Abu Ghazwan, a key link in the network operations for AQI, was killed during the cache-site raid in the Tarmiyah area, north of Baghdad, officials said. Coalition officials said Ghazwan commanded numerous terrorist cells in the Taji and Tarmiyah areas, and advised and financed other terrorist cells throughout northern Iraq and was responsible for building and facilitating vehicle bombs in the Baghdad area. Additionally, officials said, he was responsible for other terrorist groups that recruit and train children and females to conduct suicide attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.

Based on tips from local citizens about possible enemy activities and caches at three locations, the combined forces moved to the areas to investigate. They found nothing at the first location and moved on to the second location, where they detained a suspected Ghazwan associate who was wanted on an Iraqi warrant. The patrol also found a cache consisting of various ammunition rounds, knives, gun powder and a small amount of plastic explosives. The patrol then moved to a house in a third location. An explosion detonated behind it, followed by small-arms fire. The patrol returned fire. Two SoI members were wounded in the explosion, officials said.

While searching the area, an SoI member found a trail booby-trapped with grenades and an unidentified man hiding in the grass. The man showed no movement or response to the patrol's commands, and it was later determined he was Ghazwan and that he was killed by SoI and Iraqi Army small-arms fire, officials said. Coalition Forces positively identified Ghazwan, and his body was turned over to the Iraqi Army.

ISF CAPTURE 14 AQI SUSPECTS IN SEPARATE OPs
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) captured 14 suspected AQI terrorists during three separate operations in northern Iraq on November 6th. In Mosul, 2nd Iraqi Army elements captured a suspected IED cell leader and three more individuals. The cell is allegedly responsible for manufacturing and emplacing IEDs targeting civilians, Iraqi and Coalition forces. During a separate operation in Tal Uwaynat in northwest Iraq, 3rd Iraqi Army elements captured five suspected AQI weapons facilitators. The cell members were believed to be supplying weapons to AQI terrorists throughout Ninewah Province. In the Jedaydah Village of Diyala province, Baqubah Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team captured a suspected AQI cell leader and four cell members. The individuals are believed to be responsible for providing logistical support and safe housing for AQI terrorists in the Bani Sayd area. The cell leader is also believed to be leader of a sniper cell.

IA FINDS ROLLING WEAPONS CACHE IN MOSUL
An Iraqi Army unit received information about a possible VBIED, but instead discovered a rolling cache containing (14) 82 mm mortars on November 6th. The 3rd Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, received a tip about a VBIED that had been parked in the Al Islah Al Zarai neighborhood of Mosul for a couple of days. After setting up a cordon, the unit investigated the vehicle and determined the vehicle was used to store explosives and weapons and was not a VBIED. The explosives were removed from the neighborhood without incident. “Because of information provided by the community, the Iraqi Army was able to find this cache and get the weapons off the streets,” said Major Kevin Kugel, Iraqi Security Forces chief, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. “As people continue to gain confidence in the Iraqi Security Forces and work with them, the security situation will continue to improve.”