Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, while conducting an intelligence-driven operation in the Baghdad area Sept. 6 were engaged by a number of ShiÂ’a extremist militants. The targeted ShiÂ’a extremists are part of a terrorist cell operating in the Al Washash region of Baghdad. The cell is responsible for attacking local police and conducting illegal checkpoints to intimidate, extort and murder local citizens. The team also conducts extra judicial killings of Sunnis.
When Iraqi and USSF members entered the area, they immediately came under fire from more than a dozen extremists firing from the rooftops of surrounding buildings. Iraqi and U.S. Forces then responded with well-aimed and suppressive fire. Forces also directed proportional aerial fires onto targeted buildings against positively identified armed gunmen directing small arms fires onto the assault force. A total of four buildings were damaged including two enemy strongholds that sustained major damage and two surrounding buildings that sustained moderate damage. No Iraqi or U.S. forces were injured during defensive maneuver. |