Military

Security forces silence enemy mortars in northern Iraq

By Lt. Col. Andre Hance
November 14, 2005

MOSUL, Iraq (Army News Service, Nov. 14, 2005) – Two insurgent mortar teams were captured near Baqubah and 76 other suspected terrorists were detained in northern Iraq this past week.

Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces from Task Force Freedom detained 76 suspected terrorists and seized a number of weapons during operations in northern Iraq Nov. 9-14.

Iraqi Police along with Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment detained 24 individuals suspected of terrorist activity and seized AK-47s during separate operations in Tal Afar Nov. 10-11. Iraqi Army Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division detained 15 individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a cordon and search operation in Tal Afar Nov. 13.

Iraqi Army Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Division alongside Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment seized weapons during a search operation in western Mosul Nov. 11.

Soldiers detain suspected terrorists and seize weapons

Soldiers from 2/3 ACR detained 12 individuals suspected of terrorist activity and seized weapons during separate operations in Tal Afar Nov. 9-14. Soldiers from 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment detained nine individuals suspected of terrorist activity during operations near the Syrian border Nov. 10-12.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment detained eight individuals suspected of terrorist activity during separate operations in Tal Afar Nov. 12-13.

Soldiers from 65th Military Police Company seized weapons from a vehicle in northern Mosul Nov. 10. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment detained five individuals suspected of terrorist activity in northern Mosul.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion 17th Infantry Regiment detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activity and seized mortar rounds and fuel during operations in Mosul Nov. 9-13. Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment seized a weapons cache during a search operation in Qayyarah Nov. 11.

Iraqi Security forces supported by Multi-National forces continue successful operations aimed at defeating terrorists in an effort to provide safety and security to the citizens of the region.

Insurgent mortar team captured

An insurgent mortar team was captured early Thursday as they were preparing to attack a checkpoint near Baqubah.

The insurgents had a mortar tube set up to fire when a patrol from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade moved into the area. The insurgents engaged the Soldiers with rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire, but were quickly overwhelmed by the patrol.

Six insurgents were captured along with their mortar tube, six mortar shells, the RPG launcher and four RPG rounds. A seventh was killed in the fire fight.

Suspects detained after attack

Five suspected insurgents were captured by Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers late Saturday after a mortar attack against an Iraqi Army officer’s home near Baqubah.

The troops responding to the attack came under small arms fire as they approached the area and called for air support. The combination of boots on the ground and aircraft overhead quickly overwhelmed the insurgents, leading to their capture.

The insurgents fired nearly a dozen mortars at the house, but were unsuccessful at hitting the structure. Insurgents have increasingly targeted Iraqi officials and civilians in a terror campaign aimed at discrediting the democratic process that has been strengthening across the country.

(Editor’s note: The information above was supplied by Lt. Col. Andre Hance who serves with the Task Force Freedom Multinational Force-Northwest Mosul, Iraq and Lt. Col. Andre Hance ,deputy public affairs officer, 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault.)