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A member of the Iraqi national police creates an inventory of illegal weapons confiscated by Iraqi national police in the Sadr City District of Baghdad, Iraq, as he turns them over to members of the 42nd brigade, 11th Iraqi army division, at Combat Patrol Base Comanche on April 19. (US Air Force photo/Technical Sergean Adrian Cadiz) US and Iraqi forces continue to target the Mahdi Army as an Iraqi delegation visited Iran to confront the country over its support of Shia militias battling the government. The US military conducted a guided rocket attack on a Special Groups headquarters adjacent...

BAGHDAD — Iraqi citizens, who witnessed a vehicle borne improvised explosive device that killed one Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldier, turned over a criminal to the Iraqi National Police, May 1. The citizens observed a man parking a vehicle and walking a significant distance away from it. They saw the man using a cell phone before the detonation. After the blast, Iraqi citizens chased the criminal and made a citizen’s arrest. The criminal was turned over to the Iraqi National Police, where he tested positive for explosive compounds. Two other criminals were also apprehended after they were observed and identified...

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers killed 28 criminals in an extended small-arms fire engagement against Special Groups criminals in eastern Baghdad April 29.At approximately 9:30 a.m., a U.S. patrol received small-arms fire, wounding an MND-B Soldier. As the Soldier was being evacuated, a U.S. vehicle was struck by two improvised explosive devices, and received small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades.One vehicle was damaged in the attack and two other Soldiers were injured. The three Soldiers and a fourth also injured in the heavy SAF and RPG attacks that followed were evacuated to a nearby combat outpost.Another U.S. vehicle was...

TIKRIT, Iraq – Local citizens in the Diyala Province fended off an attack from al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists April 28.Coalition forces received information from local leaders that citizens and local Sons of Iraq fought against an enemy attack and killed 12 AQI terrorists.One Sons of Iraq member was also killed and three were wounded.There were also several local citizens wounded.“Iraqi citizens are tired of the insurgent’s violence and are stepping up to help keep their fellow citizens safe,” said Maj. Peggy Kageleiry, spokesperson for Multi-National Division-North.-30-

The Iraqi Army, backed by Coalition advisers and airpower, has launched an assault on the Mahdi Army-controlled neighborhood of Hayaniyah in the port city of Basrah, sparking heavy fighting. Multinational Forces Iraq described the action as "a new phase of operations" as part of the overall operation, called Knights' Charge, which was launched on March 25. The fighting in Basrah is said to be intense. The assault began at 6 AM local time when "British artillery and US aircraft released ordnance against known criminal rocket and mortar sites west of Hayaniyah," the Multinational Forces Iraq press release stated. "There were...

BAGHDAD – A Multi-National Division—Baghdad aerial weapons team killed two criminals in eastern Baghdad April 19. At approximately 3 a.m., the AWT was conducting an aerial surveillance patrol when the crew saw two criminals with a mortar tube. The AWT engaged the criminals with one hellfire missile and killed the criminals. The mortar tube was also destroyed. There have been numerous mortar and rockets attacks originating from eastern Baghdad in the past two days. “Our primary mission is to protect the Iraqi people from terrorists and criminals, “ said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, MND-B and 4th Infantry Division spokesman. “This...

BAGHDAD - Iran's ambassador to Iraq on Saturday denounced U.S. military operations in Baghdad's Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City, saying they had led to the deaths of innocent people and threatened to aggravate an already tense situation. The comments by Ambassador Hassan Kazemi Qomi came after police and hospital officials reported that 12 people had died in overnight clashes in Sadr City. U.S. and Iraqi troops backed by air power have largely blocked off the southern section of the sprawling district in a bid to prevent Shiite militia fighters led by the Mahdi Army of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr...

Iraqi troops have cordoned off the Basra office of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's followers, preventing them from holding Friday prayers. Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Abdul-Karim Khalaf said the operation is only aimed at recovering offices he said were unfairly occupied by political groups. Sadr supporters say they have been given 48 hours to leave the premises. There were no immediate reports of fighting between Iraqi troops and Sadr followers.

Iraqi Special Operations Forces soldiers load into an Iraqi air force C-130 Hercules aircraft at New Al Muthana Air Base, Iraq, April 6, 2008, in preparation for a flight to Basra, Iraq. Since March 24, 2008, the Iraqi air force has transported over 200 tons of ammunition and supplies as well as over 1,000 troops to Basra daily with two C-130s during 24-hour operations. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Allen. BASRAH — Operation Sawlat al-Fursan, or Charge of the Knights, entered a new phase of operations in Basrah. The operation, which began March 24, has now started...

CAMP VICTORY — Multi-National Division – Center kicked off the main phase of its first major operation devoted primarily to capacity building – expanding governance, economics and infrastructure – April 15 in communities south of Baghdad in the Baghdad Province. Operation Marne Piledriver is taking place in the area of operations of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). While the focus of the operation is on capacity building, Iraqi Security Forces will simultaneously target remaining insurgent pockets with the help of Coalition forces. Patrol Base Yates, which will house Iraqi and Coalition forces, is currently under construction...

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2008 – Iraqi security forces are continuing to lead operations against insurgents in Basra and Baghdad and have made significant progress toward establishing security, a U.S. military spokesman in Iraq said yesterday. Speaking to reporters in Iraq, Navy Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, detailed recent operations, including those in the southern city of Basra, where Iraqi and coalition forces have been conducting increased operations since March. “In Basra this week, Iraqi security forces continued operations against illegally armed gangs, intimidation and extortion groups, and other criminals,” Driscoll said. “Although there still is much work...

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers, in a combined operation with Iraqi Army soldiers, killed several criminals in eastern Baghdad after their convoy was attacked by multiple road side bombs, and small-arms fire from adjacent high rise buildings April 11.At approximately 9 p.m., soldiers from 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division soldiers, supporting Iraqi Army soldiers from the 42nd Brigade, 11th IA Div., killed two criminal snipers, two criminals firing rocket propelled grenades, and multiple others from a nearby building where soldiers were taking RPG and machine gun fire.At the same...

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2008 – A Hellfire missile fired from a coalition unmanned aerial vehicle killed six heavily armed criminals in northeastern Baghdad yesterday, military officials reported. Officials said coalition forces from Multinational Division Baghdad operating the UAV fired on a large group of criminals with rocket-propelled-grenade launchers and a mortar tube. In other operations in Iraq yesterday: -- Soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team found a weapons cache in Janabi. It contained a wide variety of ammunition and illumination rounds, propellant, fuses, a hand grenade, TNT and other bomb-making materials. The cache was turned over...

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2008 – Iraqi security forces acquitted themselves well, in view of their relative inexperience, in recent fighting against terrorists and criminals in the southern part of the country, including Basra, as well as in parts of Baghdad, the top U.S. military officer in Iraq said here today. “The deployment was very impressive, … certainly not something Iraqis could have done a year ago,” Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, said during a conference call with military analysts. At the end of March, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the rapid deployment of thousands...

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008 – An Army Apache helicopter and an Air Force F-16 took out a mortar-launching team and their launch site yesterday after an observation team saw them emplacing mortars in the New Baghdad district, military officials reported. A joint security station reported a mortar attack near its location in the New Baghdad district. After a second 82 mm round exploded near the station, an aerial surveillance team pinpointed the two mortars' point of origin. Iraqi security forces called in a U.S. Army Apache air weapons team that killed the mortar crew with a Hellfire missile. An F-16...

BAGHDAD, April 8, 2008 – Days after intense fighting and the March 30 call to peace from Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers patrol the outskirts of Sadr City, a district of the Iraqi capital, ensuring the safety of the city’s residents. Army Sgt. 1st Class Craig McNeal, a native of Hollandale, Miss., pounds fists with an Iraqi boy while on patrol in Sadr City, a district of Baghdad, April 1, 2008. McNeal is the platoon sergeant for 4th Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment “Gimlets,” 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 4th Infantry...

CAMP STRIKER — The Iraqi Army commander in Mahmudiyah won’t stand for criminal activity in his city. To that end, Brig. Gen. Ali Jassim Muhammad Hassen Al Frejee, commander of the 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, and Lt. Col. William Zemp, commander of 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), worked together recently to make sure that violence seen in Basra wasn’t replicated in Mahmudiyah. Zemp, a native of Hartsville, S.C., said one word sums up the IA successes in the area: leadership. The IA leadership at all levels – company, battalion...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERELEASE No. 20080408-09April 8, 2008UAV destroys rocket rails, mortar and 10 criminals (Baghdad)Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAOBAGHDAD – A U.S. Air Force Predator observed four rocket rails in an open field in northeastern Baghdad at approximately noon April 8.The unmanned aerial vehicle fired one Hellfire missile destroying all rocket rails after the UAV controllers determined there were no civilians in the area.In a second engagement a Predator observed a group of armed criminals with rocket-propelled grenades and a mortar tube in northeast Baghdad at approximately 1:45 p.m.The unmanned aerial vehicle engaged these criminals firing one Hellfire missile killing...

AL KUT — Iraqi Police (IP) and Coalition forces set up a temporary forward Tactical Operations Center (TOC) here March 31, to ensure information passes quickly between IP checkpoints and mounted military police squads. The TOC will serve as a Joint Communications Center between the 511th MP Company, from Fort Drum, N.Y., the IP in al Kut, and support elements at Forward Operating Base Delta. With IPs in the lead, MP squads have patrolled several districts of al Kut. After days of sporadic small-arms fire and clashes with rogue criminals, the IP continues operations to suppress any further violence in...

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2008 – As U.S. Central Command continues to focus on fighting terrorism in its area of responsibility, its main priorities are southern Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, a senior CENTCOM official told online journalists and “bloggers.” Recent violence in Iraq’s Basra province indicates a secular power struggle in southern Iraq as provincial elections approach later this year, Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert H. Holmes, CENTCOM’s deputy director of operations, said during a conference call April 2. The situation is unfortunate, he said, but more violence may erupt in other provinces as people posture for power. CENTCOM pays close...