Iraqi, Coalition troops capture most-wanted terrorists
October 11, 2005
BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Oct. 11, 2005) -- Iraqi Army and Coalition forces in Baghdad this weekend conducted more than 52 raids and 470 patrols, capturing more than 50 suspected terrorists, including several on the most-wanted list.
Three Iraqi Army battalions struck numerous targets simultaneously Oct. 8 in east Baghdad and detained 12 suspects.
The suspected terrorists are thought to be responsible for a minimum of 15 separate deadly attacks on schools, Iraqi Police stations, government officials and Iraqi Army and Coalition convoys. They are suspected of using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, roadside bombs and grenades to kill and maim civilians, along with military forces.
“The 2nd Iraqi Brigade continues to disrupt the enemy in its area, severely hindering the terrorists’ abilities to influence the elections, terrorize Iraqi citizens, and prevent a free and stable Iraq,” said Capt. Chris Harris, a U.S. Army officer who works with the Iraqi Army.
Coalition forces conduct simultaneous raid
In another part of east Baghdad, Coalition Forces detained five wanted terrorists during an early-morning raid Oct. 8.
The suspects are members of a terrorist group responsible for attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi civilians.
Soldiers raided the suspects’ residences and then conducted a cordon-and-knock in the surrounding neighborhoods.
“After we didn’t find our suspects initially, we moved out into the neighborhood to search other homes,” said Capt. Sam Allen, a platoon leader with 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
“In one house, the noncommissioned officers were on the ball and thought one guy was acting suspiciously. The neighbors, after seeing that we were there to help, told us that he was lying about his name, and it turned out that he was on the brigade’s most-wanted list,” Allen said.
Since local residents cooperated with Soldiers, force was not necessary in apprehending the suspect, Allen said.
“It had already been a long day when we found the suspect – we had searched about 50 homes – and that speaks volumes of our Soldiers’ work ethic and dedication,” Allen said. “They always put 100 percent into every mission and it pays off every day.”
50 raids on Sunday
Iraqi and Coalition Forces captured 34 terror suspects and seized bomb-making materials and weapons caches during more than 50 raids and searches Oct. 9.
Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police units completed seven of the combat operations independently, and took the lead on two others, working side by side with Coalition Forces.
One of the largest combat operations was conducted by members of 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
The Soldiers entered a south Baghdad neighborhood in mid-morning and quickly cordoned off the area around their targets. Within an hour, the team searched 15 buildings, detained 15 suspected terrorists and took them into custody for questioning.
Safe house yields 8,000 ammo rounds
Later in the day, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers captured four terror suspects at a safe house in west Baghdad. A search of the house revealed seven AK-47 assault rifles, 8,000 rounds of ammunition and two bomb-detonating devices.
Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers also carried out more than 470 patrols and manned more than 350 traffic control points all over the city to provide security for Iraqi citizens.
Iraqi Soldiers and IPs conducted nearly 370 of the missions themselves and teamed with Coalition Forces on 50 others.
On one of the patrols, Coalition Forces working in the Ghartan district of south Baghdad detained two more suspected terrorists. The suspects had an AK-47 rifle with 100 rounds of ammunition, a rocket-propelled grenade sighting device and electrical switches used to detonate bombs.
Soldiers treat wounded child
Task Force Baghdad Soldiers helped care for a wounded Iraqi child after a terrorist detonated an improvised explosive device at a school bus stop in west Baghdad Oct. 10.
Three other children were killed in the blast from the bomb.
U.S. Soldiers in the area evacuated the wounded child to the Abu Ghraib Field Hospital.
(Editor’s note: Information compiled from Task Force Baghdad news releases.)
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