Iraqi Special Operations Forces, the Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics team and the Baghdad National Emergency Response Unit are playing key roles in the Government of Iraq’s massive campaign to disrupt the criminal elements in the city of Amarah.

With the cooperation of tribal leaders and many of the local citizens, Iraqi Security Forces began setting the foundation to enforce the rule of lawinthe city June 19. ISOF, Hillah SWAT and the Baghdad National ERU conducted several precision operations throughout the city targeting Special Groups criminals and abettors.

According to Iraqi Brig. Gen. Noa’amam Dakeel Jawad, the Iraqi National ERU commander, ISOF and ISF will continue to conduct operations in the area until the citizens of Amarah are safe and free from the criminals in their city.

“The ERU, ISOF and Hillah SWAT have all played a large role on missions of high importance,” he said. “Things have been successful and will continue to be.”

In the past several days, Jawad and his men, along with Hillah SWAT and ISOF, have detained more than 20 individuals on warrants issued by the Ministry of Interior.

The past weeks’ clearing efforts have allowed the Iraqi government to take control of Amarah and work to establish a lasting presence for security and stability. Many Special Groups criminals, particularly the top-level criminals, fled the area to avoid capture.

“So far, there has been little to no retaliation and no innocent [people] have been hurt,” said an ISOF sergeant.

While most of the criminals fled in fear since their operations began, Jawad and his men are still making detainments, finding evidence of criminal activity and recovering criminals’ weapons caches.

In one particular mission, the ERU searched a downtown building believed to be the headquarters for Special Groups. In addition to discovering an apparent torture room containing what were identified as interrogation tools and a large number of anti-Coalition propaganda, they found a large weapons cache consisting of explosively formed projectiles, more than 100 rounds of assorted ammunition, home-made bombs, wire and anti-tank rounds, along with information on methods of attacking Coalition forces’ convoys.

Other successful operations included the detainment of a man reported to be the leader of a criminal cell specializing in sectarian killings and a financier for the organization. The ERU has also detained an Iraqi Police chief who is suspected of being a Special Groups criminal leader, facilitator and financier who has great influence over the IP in the area, as well as a police officer wanted for his involvement with sectarian killings.

According to a local sheikh, Amarah is used as a shipment point for all of the provinces in Iraq and a “warehouse” for weapons and wanted criminals traveling back and forth from Iraq and Iran.

In-depth searches for hidden weapons caches in Amarah by Iraqi Forces yielded approximately seven sites. Estimated finds by ISOF, SWAT, and ERU include roughly 180 lbs. of explosive compounds, 600 anti-tank mines, 280 rocket propelled grenades, 200 various EFP-making materials, more than 1,000 assorted rounds of ammunition, 320 mortar rounds, explosive-making materials and various weapons including more than 80 pieces of sniper equipment.

Citizens are counting on the GoI to continue seizing illegal weapons and weeding out the corrupt officials and criminal elements from their city.

Jawad believes the GoI will be successful and will ultimately turn Amarah into a peaceful community and a better place for its citizens.

When the clearing operations are complete, there will be more opportunities for work, and the youth will be more apt to join the Iraqi Security Forces, said Jawad. With criminals gone, people will prosper from a stimulated economy and improved safety and security.

“I would like all the bad people brought to justice,” said Jawad. “Everyone should be held accountable. The law should be forced on everyone to guarantee the success of the mission for Amarah and all of Iraq.”

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Two militants injured themselves while attempting to launch a rocket attack on a Multi-National Division – Baghdad forward operating base from the New Baghdad security district of eastern Baghdad June 24.

Militants launched two 107 mm rockets that landed near the FOB. Shortly after, MND-B Soldiers observed militants aiding two cohorts who appeared to be severely injured from a round that apparently exploded while they attempted to launch a third rocket.

“It seems these criminals had the misfortune to experience the pain and suffering they routinely inflict on others,” said Maj. Joey Sullinger, spokesperson for 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, MND-B. “Maybe these individuals, if they survive, will relive this experience or think about their children going through such pain the next time they contemplate launching an attack that could injure, maim or kill innocent women and children.”

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Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers disrupted efforts by Special Groups criminals to emplace improvised explosive devices, killing six and wounded another during a joint operation in the New Baghdad security district of eastern Baghdad, June 20.

A group of suspected criminals were seen observing U.S. Soldiers in Shawra Wa Um Jidir, at approximately 7:45 a.m. They pointed at the Soldiers continuously and began using cell phones. Then, one of the men ran into a building and returned with an AK-47 rifle, which he aimed at the Soldiers. The Soldiers engaged the suspect, killing him and one of his cohorts.

About 35 minutes later, the Soldiers spotted three additional criminals engaged in suspicious activity. The Soldiers engaged and killed one of the men as he attempted to emplace an improvised explosive device.

Soldiers at the same location killed another criminal emplacing an IED approximately two hours later. Just after 10:30 a.m., two Special Group criminals attempted to retrieve one of the IEDs. U.S. Soldiers killed one of them and wounded the other.

Another criminal was observed digging a hole to emplace an IED when Soldiers engaged and killed him at approximately 1 p.m.

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ISF seizes three major caches in Amarah operation

Iraqi Security Forces seized three major caches in the ongoing Operation Basha’er as-Salaam in Amarah, Iraq June 19-20.

The ISF have discovered 19 caches so far during the operation.

The first cache was discovered in a cemetery outside of the city, which contained more than 240 RPG warheads, approximately 250 mortar rounds and more than 675 anti-tank mines. Several rocket launchers were also found in the cache as well as explosively formed projectile components.

A second cache was discovered in a militia headquarters building in the downtown area of Amarah. The cache consisted of EFPs, 60 mm rounds, more than 50 82 mm rounds, 122 mm rounds, and more than 40 155 mm rounds. Several homemade bombs and anti-tanks rounds were discovered in the cache.

Iraqi Security Forces also discovered another cache consisting of 82 mm mortar tubes, approximately 70 82 mm mortar rounds and approximately 100 60 mm mortar rounds.

ISF clear insurgents out of Amarah

raqi Security Forces started clearing operations in Amarah June 19 following a four-day amnesty period for weapons turn in.

The operation, planned and led by Iraqi Security Forces, is focused on routing out criminals and militants in the area.

Coalition forces are providing advisory assistance to Iraqi Security Forces.

During the amnesty period, 17 artillery rounds and a machine gun were turned into Iraqi Security Forces.

A militia headquarters was seized by Iraqi Security Forces after a weapons cache was discovered containing 676 mines, 249 mortar rounds, 241 rocket-propelled grenades and four homemade-rocket launchers.

In operations surrounding Amarah, a total of 273 mortar rounds were discovered, along with numerous other accelerants.

National Police officers and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers found human remains at a site near a combat outpost in the Kamaliyah area of eastern Baghdad June 3 after receiving a tip from a local citizen.

National Policemen from 4th Brigade, 1st National Police Division, and Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, found the site that consisted of 10 to 12 bodies in a water-filled well-like grave.

Based on the varying states of decay, it appears that the remains are approximately two years old. Iraqi Police officials are investigating the incident.

“Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the Iraqi citizens found in this despicable grave,” said Maj. Joey Sullinger, a spokesperson for 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. “Criminals and extremists continue to show no regard for the sanctity of human life or capacity for a peaceful resolution to their problems.”

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