Coalition Forces Capture al-Qaeda Battalion Commander

In Baghdad on May 25th, coalition forces raided a house looking for a suspected al Qaeda battalion commander capturing him and two other suspects

Intelligence reports indicate he is responsible for numerous attacks in Baghdad, including assassinations, attacks on news media and attacks on the city's infrastructure.

In another operation, coalition forces detained 11 suspected terrorists southwest of Baghdad targeting al Qaeda leadership. One of the individuals detained is allegedly a close associate of a Libyan who facilitates the movement of foreign fighters in the area.

The operation, which involved 2,000 U.S. troops over the last several days, took place as Iraqi security forces said they would soon begin a large operation against militants in southern Baghdad's Al-Doura district, the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA reported.

Forces Disrupt al-Qaeda Operations in Baghdad

Coalition forces in Baghdad successfully targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq again yesterday, detaining 18 suspected terrorists and destroying a cache of weapons and bomb-making materials.

The soldiers were operating from information gleaned from a May 21 operation. During that operations, the forces detained five individuals with suspected ties to the al-Qaeda network. One individual said he had attended an IED-making class in a building nearby.

The coalition forces moved on to that building yesterday and found a cache of weapons, explosives and improvised explosive device-making materials. The cache contained three fully assembled IEDs, two artillery rounds, multiple IED triggers, eight rifles and assorted IED components.

Forces Capture Leader of Secret Iran-backed Terrorist Cell

Iraqi and Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist cell leader and killed at least five terrorists Saturday morning during raids in Sadr City.

The individual detained during the raid is believed to be the suspected leader in a secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training.

After successfully detaining the suspected secret cell leader during the morning's operation, nine vehicles moved into the target area and were positioning themselves to block and ambush Iraqi and Coalition Forces as they began to depart the area. Iraqi and Coalition Forces responded to a perceived threat and called in close air support. All nine vehicles were engaged during the air strike, killing at least five terrorists.

Intelligence reports indicate the individual detained is suspected of having direct ties to a senior leader of a significant EFP network as well as acting as a proxy for an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officer.

"We will continue to seek out and tirelessly pursue these terrorists who seek to undermine the Iraqi government and place innocents Iraqis in harms way," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

Al Anbar Rejects and Ejects al-Qaeda

The deputy commander of Multi-National Force-West and the governor of Al-Anbar province held a press conference at the Combined Press Information Center, May 22, 2007.

Their message was simple - “There are dramatic changes in Al-Anbar,” said Allen. “The Anbaris have rejected al-Qaeda."

“The security improvements have been brought about by a groundswell of opposition to al-Qaeda, represented in the fact that just in a year, the police forces in Al-Anbar have grown from about 2,000 to 14,500,” he added.

As tribal and elder leaders in Al-Anbar province offer their sons to combat terrorism through the Iraqi Army or Iraqi Police, Coalition forces are optimistic about the overall situation in the province.

“A partnership exists today in Al-Anbar province between Coalition forces, the Iraqi police and Iraqi Army,” said Allen. “By and large, al-Qaeda has been expelled out of the population centers.”

While the Al-Anbar province has improved economically and in security, al-Qaeda continues to attack Iraqi and Coalition forces.

“There are still some security issues, and there will be spectacular attacks by al-Qaeda to gain headlines and to grab attention,” said Allen.

With the arrival of more Coalition troops to support Al-Anbar in pursuing al-Qaeda, the Al-Anbar provincial government is expected to focus more on reconstruction and ultimately returning to normalcy.

Coalition Forces Rescue 42 Hostages from al-Qaeda

A US Army medics treat hostages rescued from al-Qaeda

Iraqi Army and Coalition forces conducted a raid based on a tip from a local citizen, and discovered 42 individuals at an al-Qaeda in Iraq hideout six miles south of Baquba, Iraq Sunday.

During the raid Soldiers from 5th Iraqi Army Division and U.S. Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, discovered the men, who claimed to have been held captive by al-Qaeda. Some claimed to have been held as long as four months.

A joint air and ground operation, lead by the 5th IAD, was launched to locate the alleged AQI hideout after receiving information from a local citizen.

The individuals, who were found in a small, concrete and mud compound located approximately one-half mile west of the village, were sleeping in cramped rooms on dirty blankets and pillows, according to Coalition Forces present at the site.

Soldiers also described the surroundings as having rotting food inside the building and outside on the ground.

The men were transported by Coalition Forces to a nearby combat outpost for further medical evaluation. The individuals were provided with food and water and were questioned about their abductors’ whereabouts.

There was evidence of torture and some had broken bones.

“This is one more example of how al-Qaeda treats the citizens of Iraq – and we mean ALL the citizens, not based along sectarian lines or any other lines,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Christopher C. Garver, a Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman. “This is another example of why we must win this fight against al- Qaeda.”

To support this horrific abuse of Iraqis al-Qaeda in Iraq has even prepared torture training manuels (below). Another example of why al-Qaeda must be defeated.

Lion of Fallujah Falls in Battle

Zembiec Family Photo - Captain Doug Zembiec, April 2004

from the Baltimore Sun -

Marine Corps Major Douglas A. Zembiec, an Annapolis-area Marine known as the "Lion of Fallujah" was killed Friday in Iraq while commanding a raid on insurgent forces in Baghdad, military officials said Monday.

"He was the Marine that every Marine wanted to be next to, fighting the enemy," said Sgt. Maj. William Skiles, who had been Zembiec's first sergeant in Fallujah, where Zembiec's actions solidified his standing.

Zembiec's nickname grew from media interviews granted in Fallujah in 2004, where he was commander of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. Then a captain, he often said, "My men are fighting like lions"

During one firefight, his efforts to direct a tank to fire on a building housing insurgents seemed to go nowhere.

"Doug ran outside amid rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire and he jumped up on the tank," recalled Capt. Edward Solis, his first platoon commander.

Zembiec pointed with his rifle at where the tank should aim before running back to his position unscathed. The tank hit its target.

"The jaws of every Marine there had dropped. It was like, did he just do that? I am a God-fearing man, but he just sort of walked on water that day," Solis said.

And though people spoke of the fire in his eyes, Zembiec also was known for his wide smile and the unabashed tears he shed for his dead and wounded men, showing those who served under him that "you fight the good fight and you remember your fallen comrades," Solis said.

By Andrea F. Siegel
Baltimore Sun Reporter
Originally published May 14, 2007