Diyala Ops Last Week Show Progress
Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained 10 suspects during operations Monday through Wednesday to disrupt al-Qaeda networks operating in Diyala province.
Intelligence from previous operations led Coalition forces to an area in Diyala where al-Qaeda in Iraq networks reportedly moved, seeking safe haven after successful Iraqi and Coalition operations pushed them out of the Muqdadiya area. Numerous reports indicate members of these networks are associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders operating in Tikrit, Tarmiyah and Baghdad. The network is allegedly responsible for an increase in suicide attacks in the Diyala River Valley and the construction of house-borne improvised explosive devices, anti-aircraft activity and false checkpoints. The region also serves as a key logistics pipeline for terrorists, supplies and information.
During the multi-day operation Coalition forces discovered 13 HBIEDs and seven weapons caches, including 300 anti-aircraft rounds, and improvised explosive device-making materials, including 80 bottles of ammonium chloride, various bags of ammonium nitrate, sulfur and polyethylene, and jugs of homemade explosives.
Monday, Coalition forces received small-arms and sniper fire from several locations. The ground force returned fire in self-defense and called for supporting aircraft to engage, killing four terrorists. An Iraqi civilian was caught in the cross fire and wounded. The individual received immediate medical care before being evacuated to a military medical facility. Two suspected terrorists were detained by Coalition forces during Monday’s operations.
During the following two days, Coalition forces encountered 19 structures believed to be HBIEDs. Coalition forces safely destroyed the buildings through a series of kinetic airstrikes with numerous secondary explosions confirming the presence of HBIEDs. The ground force detained an additional eight suspected terrorists during the multi-day operation.
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[...] he recommended a shift in focus toward Diyala and Baghdad. However, Al Qaeda has met with equally strong resistance in their attempt to do so. addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fasecondhandconjecture.com%2F%3Fp%3D2463′; [...]