MND-B Soldiers target criminals; 23 killed

Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers engaged and killed 23 criminals in separate engagements in Baghdad March 28.

Soldiers from 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), killed one criminal in northeastern Baghdad after seeing the individual with a rocket propelled grenade launcher in an alleyway during a patrol.

At approximately 4 p.m., a 3rd BCT, 4th Infantry Division vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in northeastern Baghdad. A number of criminals then fired on the soldiers while they attempted to recover the vehicle. Soldiers spotted and engaged two of the attackers, killing them both.

Iraqi security forces and Coalition soldiers were attacked during the early evening at a checkpoint in northwestern Baghdad. An air weapons team was called in to assist the ground force. The air weapons team fired one hellfire missile from the helicopter, targeting 10 criminals who were armed with RPG launchers and automatic weapons. All 10 were killed in the engagement.

Soldiers from 4th BCT, 1st Infantry Div., were attacked with small arms fire in southern Baghdad while on a combat patrol later in the evening. Soldiers returned fire in self defense, killing nine terrorists.

An hour later, a criminal armed with an RPG launcher attacked soldiers from 2-101 Abn. Div., striking an M1A1 Abrams. Soldiers spotted the terrorist and killed him in an exchange of gun fire.

MND-B Soldiers kill 9 supporting ISF

Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers supported Iraq Security Forces operations around Sadr City March 28-29. The two operations resulted in 9 terrorists killed.

During checkpoint inspections at approximately 11 p.m., March 28, militants attacked Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division with small-arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. The Soldiers returned fire and killed seven.

At approximately 1 a.m., Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division identified two roadside bomb emplacers. The Soldiers killed the emplacers in an exchange of gun fire.

MND-B Soldiers seize munitions, kill terrorist in firefight

Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized a small cache and killed a Special Groups criminal in an operation in the New Baghdad district March 28.

Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) first discovered a cache including explosively formed penetrators. They were then attacked by terrorists using small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades.

Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 1st National Police Division National Police Transition Team engaged the criminals. Initial reports indicate one criminal was killed and two more were wounded.

No MND-B Soldiers were injured during the encounter.

“These criminal elements who insist on ignoring al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr’s ceasefire pledge are certainly not working in the best interest of Iraqis,” said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, MND-B spokesman. “We will continue our efforts to bring these criminals to justice.”

MND-B Soldiers destroy rocket site, kill 12 terrorists

A Multi-National Division – Baghdad aerial weapons team engaged and destroyed a terrorist rocket site after observing several terrorists removing rocket rails from an attack site in eastern Baghdad March 28.

After observing the terrorists flee the scene, the aerial weapons team destroyed the attack site, followed the terrorists and destroyed a get-away vehicle which contained rockets in the trunk.

In a separate attack in eastern Baghdad, MND-B Soldiers killed two terrorists after their patrol was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire at approximately 4 p.m.

In a third attack in eastern Baghdad, MND-B Soldiers killed ten terrorists after a joint security station was attacked by small-arms fire.

There were no Coalition force or Iraqi civilian casualties as a result of these attacks.

AP reported on March 26 “Mahdi Army commanders have told the AP that the militia has recently taken delivery of new weapons supplied by backers in Iran. The arsenal, they said, included roadside bombs, anti-aircraft guns and Soviet-designed Grad rockets.

The United States has long accused Iran of providing Shiite militias in Iraq with arms and training. Iran denies it.”

News from Iraq continues to suggest that the Iraqi Army and National Police are holding their own in their fight against the Sadr Revolt. Coalition Forces are assisting where asked but the Iraqis are doing the bulk of the fighting.

Fighting continues in Basra with United States air assets visible for the first time. On March 24, aerial assets struck at a group of IED emplacers, in the Al Hyyaniyah neighborhood and killed five. The Air Force reports “a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fired cannon rounds on to enemy combatants and an enemy vehicle in the vicinity of Basrah. The mission was reported as successful by a JTAC. A Navy F/A-18 Hornet fired cannon rounds onto an enemy building containing enemy combatants in the vicinity of Basrah. The mission was declared successful by a JTAC.”

CNN reports that the Iraqi parliament is meeting to discuss the fighting in Basra. A weekend curfew has been imposed on several cities in the south. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has offered a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons in Basra, and extended a deadline for “rogue” or “outlaw” militia elements to lay down their arms. A guns-for-cash program has also been set up to allow locals to turn in illegal weapons and receive payment for them.

In Baghdad, U.S. Troops and Iraqi security forces have been engaged in securing police stations and outposts, as well as hunting down the terrorists responsible for the many rocket and mortar attacks on the Green Zone and other parts of Baghdad in the last four days.

To this point, fighting has taken place primarily in three neighborhoods, New Baghdad, Sadr City and Kadamiyah. There have been isolated fights in other areas of the city but the main violence has been in these Shia neighborhoods.

About 79 terrorists have been killed in these attacks on Iraqi and U.S. Forces. Many Iraqis and at least five Americans have been killed in the same fighting.

Further south, in Hillah and Kut, Iraqi forces supported by U.S. Special Forces advisors, have been fighting and winning. The cost has been high for the Iraqis, with 8 policemen killed in one battle alone. Reports indicate at least 25 terrorists killed, and many other arrested by the police including a group that had taken refuge in a mosque.

There are scattered reports of violence in other cities in the south, including Nasiryia.

Additional information and analysis may be found at the Long War Journal.

Coalition forces killed five suspected improvised explosive device emplacers and wounded several others after 10 individuals were spotted conducting suspicious activity in the Al Hyyaniyah District, Basra at approximately 11: 45 p.m. March 24.

After verifying the individuals were burying what appeared to be an IED, Coalition forces directed aerial fires against the enemy force.

There were no Coalition force casualties or damage reported.

MNF-I

Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces reinforced a political party headquarters building and three ISF checkpoints after an attack by terrorist forces March 25.

An Iraqi Army checkpoint was engaged by terrorist forces at approximately 11 a.m. by small-arms fire near the Daawa Party Building in Sadr City. The IA soldiers repelled the enemy forces and secured their checkpoint and the building.

Three checkpoints also came under enemy fire. The ISF and CF quickly reinforced the positions. The combined efforts of these forces caused the terrorists to flee the area.

During one of the engagements, an air weapons team was called in for support.

The air crew engaged the enemy forces.

MNF-I

Terrorists launched 12 combined mortar and rocket attacks attacks into Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s operational environment beginning at approximately 6 a.m. March 25.

Among the multiple attacks were 107 mm rockets were fired toward Baghdad’s International Zone, 81 mm mortars were fired at Forward Operating Base Falcon, 107 mm rockets were fired at Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah, 60 mm mortars were fired at Joint Security Station Thawra 1, and 60 mm mortars were fired at Joint Security Station SUJ.
The attacks resulted in limited civilian injuries and minor damage to buildings and vehicles.

“Extremists continue to fire indiscriminately from the vicinity of Sadr City putting the residents of Baghdad at risk,” said Col. Allen Batschelet, chief of staff, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. “The vast majority of Iraqis want security and stability. Coalition forces want the same, a better future for all Iraqis.”

MNF-I