War on Terror Update

Three U.S. Soldiers die, twenty-eight terrorists killed, 44 detained, and weapons cache destroyed. A compact water treatment plant finished.

September 30, 2007

WASHINGTON DC NEWS -- It's a lamentable Sunday for Americans. Yesterday Coalition Forces lost three soldiers. The first soldier, with Multi-National Division-Baghdad, was killed during a small arms fire attack while conducting combat operations in a southern section of the Iraqi capital. Soldiers in this unit continue to conduct aggressive attack operations in order to deny and disrupt al-Qaeda terrorist cells from using this area as a support zone. Such operations help reduce al-Qaeda's influence on the local populace and the overall threat of improvised explosive devices along main routes.

In separate incident, the second soldier, a Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldier was killed and one wounded when their unit was attacked by an improvised explosive device and small arms fire in an eastern section of the Iraqi capital. Units operating in this area of Baghdad continue to conduct targeted raids and clearing operations in order to disrupt insurgent and militia elements operating in this section of Baghdad. Destroying these cells stabilizes the neighborhoods MND-Baghdad units continue to operate in.

In a third incident, a Task Force Lightning soldier was killed by enemy gunfire in Diyala province.

We deeply regret having to report this news, and our prayers go out to the families of these two patriots. They will always be remembered for their service to our country.

In the Nineveh Province, three Sunni Imams, holymen who leads prayers, from separate mosques were slain by suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq gunmen in Mosul. The Imams were from the al-Hudaa, al-Sadiq and al-Suhabah mosques in Mosul. All the victims were found dead with gunshot wounds.

Major General Benjamin Mixon, commander, Multi-national Division-North said, "It is so very tragic and saddening that these murders occurred, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. It is a time traditionally associated with peace and forgiveness between Muslims. This heinous act is obviously the work of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Our thoughts and prayers are with all Iraqis as we mourn the loss of these religious leaders who represented faith and hope for the future of Iraq."

Elsewhere in Iraq, Coalition forces killed a total of eight terrorists and detained 44 suspected terrorists Friday, Saturday and this morning during operations throughout Iraq.

Intelligence led Coalition forces to a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq meeting location southwest of Samarra Friday, where ground forces captured a suspect believed to be the key communications link between senior leaders of al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda in Iraq. The targeted individual is also alleged to be responsible for the movement of numerous suicide bombers into Iraq. In addition to the targeted individual, Coalition forces detained nine suspected terrorists on site.

In another precision operation in Samarra Friday, Coalition forces were engaged by small arms fire when they approached a target building. The ground force continued to receive fire from the building and, responding in self-defense, called for close air support to defend against the enemy force, killing five terrorists. During the operation, Coalition forces discovered rocket-propelled grenades, rifles, ammunition, and an improvised explosive device on site. Three buildings and the large cache of weapons were safely destroyed to prevent further use by terrorists.

Coalition forces killed two more terrorists and detained 21 more suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq networks in the Tigris River Valley Saturday and this morning.

In a village southwest of Samarra, Coalition forces conducted several coordinated operations this morning targeting individuals believed to be close associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader. As Coalition forces approached one of the target areas, an armed individual emerged and maneuvered toward a nearby palm grove. Perceiving a hostile threat, Coalition forces engaged the terrorist, killing him. As the ground force secured the area, another armed man emerged and maneuvered toward them. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces engaged, killing him. Two of the targeted individuals and one suspected terrorist were also detained on site, including one individual who is allegedly responsible for attacks against Coalition forces. During the course of operations, four Iraqi civilians were injured, treated on site and transported to a military medical facility.

Nearby, Coalition forces targeted individuals believed to be members of a security network for an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader. During the operations, four of the targeted individuals were captured on site and three other suspected terrorists were detained. Coalition forces also captured an individual believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq emir responsible for military, administration and financial matters in the village, and to have with ties to senior leadership. In addition to the targeted individual, two suspected terrorists were detained. One suspected terrorist was wounded during the operation when he jumped from a building to evade the ground force. The suspect was transported to a military medical facility.

In other operations, Coalition forces detained two suspects while targeting an associate to al-Qaeda in Iraq in the Arab Jabour area of Baghdad. In Mosul, Coalition forces captured an associate of several al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders who is believed to have ties to other extremist leaders in the area. The targeted individual identified himself to the ground force and two additional suspects were detained on site. Saturday, Coalition forces detained two additional suspects while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders south of Tikrit.

During operations southwest of Tarmiyah Saturday, Coalition forces captured an associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader operating in the northern belt around Baghdad, and who is responsible for foreign terrorist facilitation, kidnaping and weapons trafficking in the country. The targeted individual identified himself to Coalition forces, and five other suspected terrorists were detained during the operations.

Intelligence led Coalition forces to a location south of Baghdad where they captured a wanted individual and two suspected terrorists. The targeted suspect allegedly had ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader Abu Usama al-Tunisi, captured September 25, and is believed to be an associate of foreign terrorist facilitators in the southern belt. Also, in the area, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq believed to be involved in numerous improvised explosive device attacks against Coalition forces. One suspected terrorist was detained on site.

Coalition forces conducted another operation targeting an associate of al-Tunisi west of Yusufiyah. When Coalition forces called to the target buildings' occupants to come out, four individuals emerged and maneuvered toward a nearby palm grove. The ground force repeatedly called for the individuals to stop, but they refused to comply. Perceiving a hostile threat, Coalition forces engaged the terrorists, killing one and wounding another. The injured suspect was transported to a military medical facility for treatment. Three additional suspects were detained on site. Unfortunately, during the operation, a child was inadvertently injured. The child was treated on site and then transported with his mother to a military medical facility for further treatment.

Multi-National Division-Baghdad air assets engaged more than 20 Al Qaeda insurgent terrorists approximately 28 kilometers northwest of Baghdad Saturday, after the terrorists fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and small arms at the aircraft. The resulting firefight ended with more than 20 terrorists of the Al Qaeda cell being killed and four of their vehicles being destroyed.

Patrolling the skies, aircraft from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division had reported to the scene to observe possible extremist activities in the area based off of a report from local Iraqi Security Volunteers that an Al Qaeda terrorist cell was working in the area.

Upon arriving to the scene, the aircraft observed about 25 Al Qaeda personnel carrying AK-47 assault rifles, with one of the men brandishing an RPG, and walking through an area of local shops and into a palm grove. Shortly after spotting the men, the aircraft were fired upon by the terrorist insurgent fighters.

The incident took place within the 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division's area of operations where Ironhorse troops from the 2nd "Stallion" Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment have been working alongside the Iraqi Security Volunteers and Iraqi Security Forces to root out Al Qaeda operatives and extremists. No Iraqi Security Volunteers or U.S. Soldiers were hurt or killed during the engagement.

Major Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesperson said, "Al-Qaeda in Iraq's leaders are on the run. Our operations continue to capture and kill al-Qaeda in Iraq members at every level top, middle and bottom; there's no safe haven for terrorists here."

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that they installed and handed over a compact water treatment plant to Iraqi authorities in Dhi Qar Province in Southern Iraq. The compact plant will supply water to residents of the village of Sulaiman and people living nearby, serving approximately 420 homes.

Officially known as the Al-Sulaiman Compact Water Unit & Network System, the new facility will provide reliable, clean water to residents in an area that has long faced critical water challenges. These challenges arose in part from contamination due to high salinity in the water and from under-funding for water needs during the past regime. Therfore, southern Iraq has a high mortality rate for infants and children under five due to preventable water-borne diseases.

The facility consists of a 50 cubic meter/per hour compact unit water treatment plant with an above-ground storage reservoir and includes a piping network and connection to an existing water network. The project cost nearly $419,000, and was paid for by the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund.