America's North Shore Journal

Multi-National Corps – Iraq

Iraqi Special Operations Forces liberated an Imam held captive in an insurgent stronghold May 21 in the Iskandariyah area of Baghdad during a search for missing U.S. Soldiers.

“It felt great to help set an Iraqi religious leader free from terrorists who tortured him for more than 20 days,” said a senior enlisted Coalition advisor to the ISOF Brigade during the operation.

The Iraqi and Coalition Forces found Imam Tariq Hussain Hamdan, at an isolated farmhouse, while searching for the missing soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division who were kidnapped by insurgents May 12.

During the search, the ISOF detained one suspect. The team also found and destroyed several vehicles containing IED materials, multiple weapons, grenades, weapons, RPG rounds, face hoods and parts to make improvised explosive devices hidden inside food storage devices.

“Operations like this one are just one way our two cultures can come together to help defeat the insurgency who are undermining the progress of their country’s citizens,” the adviser said.

Iraqi Forces received enemy fire as they moved to their objective. Iraqi Forces returned fire and suppressed the enemy. One Iraqi soldier suffered a minor wound during the operation.