Troops Kill, Detain Dozens of al Qaeda in Iraq

Coalition and Iraqi forces killed and captured dozens of insurgents and seized scores of weapons during operations in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.

Combined forces killed eight terrorists and detained 11 suspects during raids today targeting al Qaeda leaders and their networks in central and northern Iraq.

During operations southeast of Kirkuk, coalition forces targeted a regional terrorist unit commander, also referred to as an “emir,” and one of his operatives, both of whom are believed to facilitate the movement of foreign terrorists in Iraq, military officials said. As the assault force approached the target site, troops observed the two armed men in tactical fighting positions poised to attack.

Coalition forces called for close-air support, which engaged the two armed terrorists, killing them. Once the assault force was at the target location, four armed men attempted to maneuver around them into tactical positions, but coalition forces engaged and killed them using fire from the supporting aircraft. Ground forces surveyed the area and found weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, an RPG sight and a suicide vest. An explosives team safely destroyed the materials on site.

During two coordinated operations at the border of Salah ad Din and Tamim, northeast of Tikrit, troops targeted a senior-level al Qaeda advisor operating in the Kirkuk area. The targeted individual is believed to be tied to the international terrorist Khalid al Turki, who was killed in an operation June 23, and several other al Qaeda leaders in the area, military officials said.

As coalition forces arrived at the first location, they received small-arms fire from a nearby rooftop. Troops responded to the enemy fire, calling for close-air support to engage and kill two armed men identified on the roof.

When coalition forces secured the building, they discovered two women and a boy who were injured in the engagement. The assault force treated the three civilians and transported them to a military medical facility for further treatment. Troops detained six suspects during the operation. At the second location, coalition forces detained two additional suspects with alleged ties to the al Qaeda advisor.

During a raid in southern Baghdad, troops targeted al Qaeda leaders associated with a car-bomb network that operates in the Iraqi capital. Ground forces captured three alleged members of the cell with ties to both its current leader and a suspected former leader detained in an operation May 5, military officials said.

“We continue to seek out terrorists wherever they hide, to diminish their ability to attack the Iraqi people,” said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We work very hard to avoid injuring innocent bystanders and provide immediate medical care if we do.”

In a separate raid this morning, Iraqi and coalition forces captured a highly sought weapons facilitator before dawn in Baghdad, military officials said. Combined forces captured the suspected senior weapons distributor, who allegedly is connected to a network of “special groups” that receive arms -- including explosively formed penetrators, the most deadly form of improvised explosive device -- and funding from Iran. The suspect, who allegedly is linked to senior terrorist commanders, is responsible for distributing such Iranian weapons and other forms of lethal aide across the Iran-Iraq border, military officials said.

During the raid, troops detained two others who are suspected of distributing weapons smuggled into Iraq from Iran. Coalition forces confiscated money and identification documents from one of the targeted buildings for further analysis and evaluation.

“We assess that this capture will degrade the weapons smuggling network,” Garver said. “Coalition forces will continue their focused operations to interdict Iranian supported terror groups operating in Iraq.

“We remain committed to dismantling terror networks that seek to kill innocent Iraqis, Iraqi security forces, and coalition forces,” he added.

Citizens Root Out Terrorists

The citizens of Iraq are fighting back against terrorists in one Sunni dominated area south of Baghdad.

"This is a resounding victory for the concerned citizens and for the Coalition Forces. The few remaining extremists have nowhere to hide because the population will no longer harbor them."

Capt. Henry Moltz
Commander, Company A.

Paratroopers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, are now fighting the enemy with information from hundreds of citizens who have pledged responsibility for the security of their neighborhoods.

The Concerned Citizens Program is similar to an all-volunteer Neighborhood Watch. During a recent operation in Jurf as Sakhr, concerned citizens led Iraqi soldiers and U.S. paratroopers to a stronghold where five al-Qaeda members were killed after paratroopers called in precision air strikes from helicopter gunships and U.S. Air Force fighter jets to destroy the building.

This has been the first attempted attack by al-Qaeda and other extremists since the Concerned Citizens Program began almost two months ago.
"This is a resounding victory for the concerned citizens and for the Coalition Forces. The few remaining extremists have nowhere to hide because the population will no longer harbor them" said Capt. Henry Moltz, commander, Company A. "There are 160 paratroopers in Company A, but with the Concerned Citizens there are now thousands of eyes and ears working toward the same security goals."

There are now more than 500 registered members of the Concerned Citizens Program who have volunteered to protect their villages and roads while they await training for the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police forces.

At least 300 concerned citizens have already been accepted into the Iraqi army. Moltz estimates another 300 people will register for the Concerned Citizens Program in the next few weeks, and that the Iraqi police will begin to accept the concerned citizens into their ranks within the next month.

Jurf as Sahkr has long been one of the most hostile and dangerous areas of Iraq.

"In the past three weeks these brave volunteers have helped clear their villages of terrorists who are no longer welcome here," Moltz said. "Together with the local population, almost all of Jurf as Sahkr has been reclaimed from al-Qaeda and other extremist fighters. The streets are finally quiet."

Terrorists Get Killed as they Prepare to Attack

Coalition forces from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division engage seven insurgents staging an attack on a combat outpost in southeastern Baghdad.

Senator McConnell Says Surge a Success

Glenn Beck Lauds Surge Progress

Senators Say They See Progress From Surge

Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker returned last week from a four-day trip to Iraq and reported clear successes to the Chatanoogan -

“During our visit we saw clear successes in some provinces, with coalition forces working with Iraqis on the ground – running out Al Qaeda and providing security for Iraqis to live their lives.

"I’m enormously impressed with General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker and with what they are accomplishing militarily, and I’m looking forward to their report this fall. I hope the lessons of the last few months and the recommendations of the Baker-Hamilton bipartisan Iraq Study Group Report will provide the basis for a Petraeus plan to put us on a path to finish the job in Iraq.”

Murtha says Surge Not Making any Progress

John Murtha denies the Surge has made any progress. Once again, the troops on the ground disagree with "King Corruption"

Oh well, he'll have plenty to keep him busy now that he is likely to be censured.

Raids Kill Iranian-Supported Terrorists

Coalition troops detained 36 terrorists and killed nine others today during a series of raids in Baghdad and other areas in central and northern Iraq, officials reported.

Individuals detained in the Baghdad raid are believed to be involved in the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq into Iran for terrorist training. Coalition forces also confiscated a number of documents, photographs and possible improvised explosive device components.

Intelligence reports indicate one of the detainees is a “special groups” senior-level terrorist facilitator with possible Iranian connections.

“The special groups network constitutes a significant threat to security and stability in Sadr City and other areas around Baghdad,” said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We will continue to dismantle and degrade the special groups terrorist network, eliminating their ability to attack innocent Iraqis as well as Iraqi security forces and coalition forces.”

Coalition forces killed eight terrorists and detained 16 others during additional raids in and around Baghdad aimed at key leaders in the al Qaeda in Iraq network operating in central and northern Iraq.

US Forces Help Secure, Respect Local Citizens

Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of coalition forces in Diyala province, Iraq, speaks with Sheik Sammi, a tribal leader in Sheik Sa'ad Village, to ensure that the local citizens feel secure and are being treated with respect during operations in support of Operation Lightning Hammer, Aug. 14, 2007.

NIE Cites "Measurable" Progress from Surge

Key Judgements from the just-released National Intelligence Estimate indicate the Surge is working. Some quotes -

There have been measurable but uneven improvements in Iraq’s security situation since our last National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq in January 2007.

We assess, to the extent that Coalition forces continue to conduct robust counterinsurgency operations and mentor and support the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), that Iraq’s security will continue to improve modestly during the next six to 12 months but that levels of insurgent and sectarian violence will remain high.

The IC assesses that the emergence of “bottom-up” security initiatives, principally among Sunni Arabs and focused on combating AQI, represent the best prospect for improved security over the next six to 12 months, but we judge these initiatives will only translate into widespread political accommodation and enduring stability if the Iraqi Government accepts and supports them.

Iraqi Security Forces involved in combined operations with Coalition forces have performed adequately, and some units have demonstrated increasing professional competence.

We assess that changing the mission of Coalition forces from a primarily counterinsurgency and stabilization role to a primary combat support role for Iraqi forces and counterterrorist operations to prevent AQI from establishing a safehaven would erode security gains achieved thus far.

Commander says Iraqi citizens turning against insurgents

BAGHDAD — Iraqis who once aligned themselves with militants are now taking up arms against al-Qaeda, a top commander in the Iraqi capital said during a conference call Friday.

Likening members of terrorist organizations to “street gangsters,” U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil, commander of Multi-National Division-Baghdad and 1st Cavalry Division, said Iraqis are becoming tired of price gouging on staples such as gasoline and ice when militant groups move in and take over neighborhoods.

“We have found that throughout the city there is increasing distrust, fatigue and disillusionment by the population with al-Qaeda and Jaysh al-Mahdi (militia group),” he said. “There is a strong desire in the neighborhoods to turn away from them.”

MRAPs Flown to Iraq

U.S. Air Force airmen prepare to load a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle into a C-5 Galaxy aircraft for shipment to Iraq at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. on Aug. 16, 2007.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has been pushing the production and delivery of MRAPs, which boast a V-shaped hull that deflects bomb blasts and protects troops inside better than the military’s current vehicles. The Defense Department awarded two more contracts for the vehicles the week of Aug. 10, which brings the number of vehicles on contract to 6,415. An estimated 3,500 MRAPs are expected to be shipped to Iraq by Dec. 31.

The MRAPs are shipped to Iraq by the 437th Airlift Wing, out of Charleston. The vehicles are part of the 300 tons of cargo the unit moves on a daily basis. It typically takes two days to airlift the MRAPs to Iraq, said Cynthia Bauer, a public affairs officer with U.S. Transportation Command, which oversees the movement of the vehicles. A small number of MRAPs are taken by sea, which takes between 22 and 30 days, she said.

As of Aug. 9, Transportation Command has shipped 701 MRAPs and MRAP-like vehicles to the Central Command area, Bauer said. The command will continue to ship the vehicles as the military commanders in theater request them, she said.

MRAPs come in three categories: Category I vehicles are designed for urban combat operations and can transport six people; Category II vehicles have multi-mission capabilities, including convoy lead, troop transport, ambulance, explosive ordnance disposal and combat engineering, and can transport up to 10 people; Category III vehicles perform mine and improvised-explosive-device clearance operations and explosive ordnance disposal and can transport six people, or five with additional equipment. The Buffalos that were shipped last night fall under Category III.

President Confident of Success in Iraq as Iraqis Step Forward

More Iraqis are stepping forward to defend their democracy as young men sign up for the army, police patrol the streets, and joint coalition and Iraqi operations double, President Bush said during today during his weekly radio address.

“As the Iraqi people feel more secure, they are also forming neighborhood watch groups. They’re volunteering important information about the terrorists and extremists hiding in their midst,” Bush said.

The increase in tips helps account for the marked reduction in sectarian murders, Bush said. Also, driving out terrorists from cities and neighborhoods creates conditions for reconciliation at the local level, he said.

“Despite continuing violence, leaders in places like Anbar, Najaf and Ninewah are now working through local provincial councils to approve funds to finance the rebuilding of homes and neighborhoods, to fight corruption, and to create new jobs,” Bush said.

Bush added it can be easy to overlook the bravery shown by Iraqi troops and Iraqi civilians who are in the fight for freedom, but American troops on the ground see it every day.

He related the story of Army Staff Sgt. Sean Kane, one of four American soldiers whose life was reportedly spared by an Iraqi civilian who intercepted a suicide bomber last week in Baghdad while American soldiers were meeting with an Iraqi citizens group.

“Suddenly, a suicide bomber came running around a corner and headed straight for our soldiers and the Iraqi civilians,” Bush said.

One Iraqi man saw what was happening and ran to intercept the bomber, Bush said.

“As he pushed the terrorist away, the bomb detonated – killing both men, but sparing four American soldiers and eight Iraqi civilians,” Bush said.

Later that same night, the citizens group contacted the local director of the Iraqi National Police and told him the location of the al Qaeda cell believed to be responsible for the attack. A raid was conducted that resulted in four arrests, Bush said.

New surge operations began in Iraq in June and the president emphasized that it is still the early stages of the new operations, but the success of the past two months has shown that conditions on the ground can change.

“We cannot expect the new strategy we are carrying out to bring success overnight,” Bush said.

Bush said he is confident that helping Iraqis build democracy in their country will benefit Americans and people throughout the Middle East.

Sheiks Strive to Unite Communities

Provincial governor Hamood Shekti al Qaisi takes questions from media via satellite at the Combined Press Information Center, Baghdad, Aug. 23, 2007.

Members of the Salah Ad Din Sheik’s support council held a press conference via satellite at the Combined Press Information Center, Aug. 23.

"It is a long battle against the terrorists. . . We cannot define or decide how long this battle will take. But we think that we are going in the right direction. We believe in our capabilities and we also depend on God. We ask God to provide security for all the Iraqis and progress for Iraq." Hamood Shekti al Qaisi Governor of the Salad Ad Din province.

Hamood Shekti al Qaisi, governor of the Salad Ad Din province, and three sheiks explained the council’s focus on neighborhood security, its cooperation with the Iraqi government and Iraqi forces, and its long term focus of eliminating terrorist activity in their region.

Qaisi said the council is striving to unite the community and bring stability to Iraq. There are approximately 150 sheiks currently involved in the council. Qaisi brought three with him for support.

“All three sheiks here and the leaders of the support council along with all the other members of this support council are working very closely with the local government,” Qaisi said. “And they're working very close to stabilize the security along with accomplishing the national reconciliation with central government.”

Operation Brings the "Hammer" to Al Qaeda

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brandon Whitis beams with delight after being given a meal on flat bread by an Iraqi man and woman in the Diyala River Valley region of Iraq on Aug. 14, 2007. Whitis and his fellow soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, are patrolling in the region.

Operation Lightning Hammer concluded Aug. 22 after a 12-day, large-scale operation to disrupt al Qaeda and other terrorist elements in the Diyala River Valley, a complex area of villages and palm groves in Iraq’s Diyala province.

The operation, which involved about 16,000 Iraqi and coalition forces clearing some 50 villages, was a key element in Multinational Corps Iraq’s overall Operation Phantom Strike, and it resulted in 26 al Qaeda members killed, 37 suspected terrorists detained, and the discovery of 10 weapons caches.

“The strength and determination of the fighting men and women from the Iraqi and coalition forces showed great results during Lightning Hammer,” said Army Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of coalition forces in Diyala province. “We have continued to diminish their supplies and disable al Qaeda’s abilities to disrupt the population.”

Al Qaeda Disrupted During Operations

Coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 12 suspected terrorists today during operations in central and northern Iraq.

During an operation targeting an al Qaeda cell, coalition forces returned to an area east of Tarmiyah where they killed 13 terrorists and captured 12 suspects last week. Local Iraqis who had helped coalition forces target the cell last week continued to provide information about terrorist operations there.

The assault force killed two armed men who attacked with small-arms fire. As the force continued to secure the buildings, they repeatedly encountered armed men attempting to barricade themselves in individual rooms. In all five cases, coalition forces fought and killed the men. Coalition forces also detained four suspected terrorists and assessed that nine individuals identified in intelligence reports had been killed or captured.

"With the help of the Iraqi community, we basically crippled this cell," said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "We'll continue working with local citizens to dismantle the rest of the networks that threaten the security of Iraq."

25,000 turn against insurgency, Al-Qaeda

The U.S. strategy to build alliances with mostly Sunni tribal and local leaders has prompted 25,000 of their followers to turn away from the insurgency and fight against al-Qaeda.

Read more...

Democrats see 'results' in Iraq

The Washington Times reports -

"Top Senate Democrats have started to acknowledge progress in Iraq, with the chairman of the Armed Services Committee yesterday saying the U.S. troop surge is producing "measurable results."

Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan highlighted improved security in Baghdad and al Qaeda losses in Anbar province as examples of success — a shift for Democrats who have mainly discounted or ignored advances on the battlefield for weeks."

G.O.P. Candidates See Signs of Progress in Iraq

The New York Times reports -

"The leading Republican presidential candidates said today that the military escalation in Iraq appeared to be restoring stability in that country and they berated their Democratic counterparts for advocating an end to American involvement there."

Apaches on the Hunt

Insurgents try to run, but...

Insurgents are hit trying to escape after conducting an IED attack on Coalition forces. The lone survivor is then hit with a Hellfire missile.

IED Operator Gets Caught, then Owned

Senior Terrorists Blown into Pieces

Khalid, Khalil, and Khattab al-Turki, senior terrorists operating in Iraq with close ties to top al-Qaeda leadership, were killed after messing with Coalition forces on June 23, 2007.

US Intercepts and Smashes al-Qaeda at Donkey Island

In another sign that the Surge is working took place on June 30 in Iraq with a major US victory against al-Qaeda - and just a few weeks later in the Washington Post.

The Battle of Donkey Island occurred on 30 June 2007 between elements of the 77th U.S. Armored Regiment and a numerically superior force of Al-Qaeda in Iraq insurgents outside the city of Ramadi in the Al-Anbar province in Iraq.

Official reports indicate that the US suffered 2 dead and 11 wounded soldiers in the conflict while an estimated 32 insurgents were killed (out of an estimated force of 40 - 70 fighters).

In military terms, the battle was a complete victory for the U.S. forces, detecting and annihilating a superior insurgent force before it could launch a planned assault on Ramadi.

Politically, the battle showed the continuing ability of Al-Qaeda in Iraq to plan and assemble forces in their attempt to destabilize the Anbar region - but they got smacked down anyway.

On the Washington political front, the fact that the Post ran a truthful article about a US victory was stunning.

ABC News Reports Surge Progress

ABC News reporting from Baghdad indicates security situation much improved in Baghdad. Residents are reporting progress in many parts of the city.

Former Critics Says Surge is Working

Is the Surge working? Some long-term critics say, "We are finally getting somewhere." They also report high morale among US troops.

On the Hunt

Apaches hunting insurgents that were attacking coalition forces.

Sniper gets Sniped

UAV footage of an insurgent sniper running from his firing position to a vehicle - and then his life is brought to an end.