Fighting Terror and Crime in Iraq

 

Updated
Source: Gerry J. Gilmore, AFPS

WASHINGTON, In a series of raids to prevent more terrorist attacks by foreign infiltrators and Saddam regime loyalists against young Coalition soldiers and Iraqis, many powerful weapons were located and confiscated. In one weapons cache find soldiers discovered the explosive C4.

C4 has been reportedly used by terrorists in several attacks against peacekeepers and in acts to try and create chaos by sabotaging the Iraqi nation’s oil and water supply.

Over the weekend, Iraqi witnesses saw two men ride up on motorcycles to a large city water pipeline. After getting off their motorbikes, they quickly wrapped an item around a key city water pipeline, then fled. Moments later the large water pipe exploded, the damage has left several hundred Iraqi families without water in extremely hot weather conditions.

Only hours before the water pipe had been sabotaged, powerful explosive devices were apparently planted by Saddam regime loyalists, and upon detonation killed two U.S. 4th Infantry Division soldiers. Three other soldiers were wounded in two separate incidents in Iraq on Aug. 12 and 13, according to U.S. Central Command.

Two soldiers were taken to the 28th Combat Support Hospital after their M-113 armored personnel vehicle hit an explosive device Aug. 13 near the town of Ad Dwar. One soldier eventually died of his injuries.

CENTCOM reported that another U.S. 4th Division soldier was killed and two wounded in the early evening of Aug. 12 when their vehicle convoy was struck by an explosive device on the roadway near Al Taji. The injured soldiers were taken to a nearby medical facility for medical treatment and care.

The Aug. 12 evening attack had been preceded earlier that day by a similar attack incident near Ar Ramadi, which also involved an explosive device that killed one U.S. 3rd Infantry Division soldier and seriously wounded two other soldiers.

Tipsters Help Fight Terror and Stop Counterfeit Money Operation

Despite all the criminal acts against Iraqis and terror attacks against the Coalition, the Iraqi citizens continue to cooperate with the Coalition forces to help prevent attacks of various types. With the help of Iraqi citizens a counterfeit operation was disrupted. Several million dollars in currency has been discovered to be counterfeit that was under the control of Saddam’s regime.

Local Iraqi citizens also prevented two possible deadly attacks by informing 1st Armored Division soldiers of the location of explosive devices. In the first incident, a taxi driver reported the location of a possible explosive devices to soldiers on patrol. An explosive ordnance team determined the IED was a 155 mm shell with a circuit board and wires. The EOD team disabled the device. The other IED location tip came from a walk-in Iraqi citizen. Upon arrival at the reported location, soldiers found everything the Iraqi walk-in source had given to be completely accurate. They found a 105 mm round with wiring set to detonate in a white bag with two rocket-propelled grenade rounds beside it.

In another counterfeit money bust, the 1st AD, acting on a tip from an Iraqi local source about a possible counterfeit money operation, raided a house in Baghdad. And, in the raid, the 1st AD confiscated millions of uncut counterfeit Dinar. Also found were copy machines, pictures of Saddam, computers and many different dangerous weapons. In another house search, 1st AD seized more than 4 million counterfeit Iraqi Dinar; a large assortment of weapons and more than 500 hundred rounds of small arms ammunition.

The 4th Infantry Division and elements from their task force, detained four suspected former regime loyalists in a separate operation, in a raid conducted near Tikrit on Aug. 12. In other operations, 4th ID detained four additional individuals. Confiscated weapons include 98 rocket-propelled grenades rounds, 33 rounds of 82 mm mortars, 12 AK-47s, one 60 mm mortar tube, 43 rounds of 60 mm mortar. Additionally, 4.6 million Iraqi Dinar and military uniforms and helmets were confiscated.

In the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force area of operation, Iraqi police turned in two SA-7 missiles, six anti-tank rockets, four 82 mm mortar tubes and two cans of .50 caliber ammunition they discovered in a warehouse in Al Hillah. In another weapons find, a local source turned in more than 50 rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

Last week coalition forces conducted 13 raids, 843 day patrols and 639 night patrols. The units also conducted 143 day patrols and 100 night patrols with Iraqi police.

Voluntary Weapons Turn In Day & More Confiscations

A local community voluntarily organized a weapons turn-in day August 11 to help create a safe and secure Iraq as Coalition forces continue the mission for peace. A local village, Tal Alseer, coordinated a weapons turn-in recently with the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment attached to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. The turn-in collected an 82mm mortar tube, hundreds of mortar rounds and one 14.5 mm anti-aircraft gun with 16 cases of ammunition. Due to the success of the event, the battalion is working to reward the Tal Alseer village to encourage this type of activity in other areas.

In a 1st Armored Division raid, soldiers detained a suspected weapons dealer and confiscated more than 1,440 rounds of small arms ammunition, 17 AK-47s, 19 20mm flares, four grenades, one 9mm pistol and one rifle.

In a separate incident, acting on a tip from a local source, 1st AD found a weapons cache of eight mortars and one rocket-propelled grenade. An explosive ordnance team will dispose of the weapons.

Meanwhile, Task Force Iron Horse soldiers working in support of the 4th Infantry Division conducted an operation, which resulted in one individual detained and confiscation of 178 rounds of 155mm ammunition, five 90mm tank rounds, and three 120 mm mortar rounds.

The Iraqi police are becoming prevalent and efficient in serving and keeping neighborhoods safe in Iraq. Along with the Coalition forces, the Iraqi police in the last few days have conducted 32 raids against regime terrorists and have provided over 824 day patrols and 638 night patrols for their neighborhoods and communities.