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| Iraq |
| MNF Press Release: Iraqi Security Forces conduct raid, 16 insurgents killed |
| 2006-03-27 |
| This is the MNF press release of the raid that Sadr's minions are trying to twist into an atrocity. Photos from the raid: Iraqi Special Operations Forces conduct operation in Baghdad The Iraqi Special Forces are equipped like US forces, including armoured Humvees and M-4s. Iraqi Counterterrorism Forces killed 16 insurgents and wounded three others while conducting a coordinated operation to capture and detain insurgents responsible for kidnapping and execution activities in northeast Baghdad Sunday. Soldiers from the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 1st Iraqi Special Operations Forces Brigade, also detained 18 other individuals, discovered a significant weapons cache, and secured the release of an Iraqi being held hostage. The discovered weapons cache included AK-47 assault rifles, grenades, RPGs, two RPG launchers, heavy machine guns, crush switch indicators used to make improvised explosive devices, and several rounds of ammunition. The cache was destroyed on the scene along with two vehicles that contained weapons and IED making material. The hostage, a dental technician with the Ministry of Health, was kidnapped earlier Sunday as he was walking outside of his office. During the next 12 hours, his captors beat him and threatened to torture him. After the ISOF soldiers rescued him, they took him to an undisclosed location where he received medical care from Iraqi doctors. Military officials have issued two statements correct errors in the civilian media. “No mosques were entered or damaged during this operation," military officials said. "The building was not a party headquarters but a community meeting room, and there was substantial intelligence on this building showing that that was not, in fact, what it was used for.” U.S. Special Forces troops were on hand only as advisors. In other news around Baghdad , a major step forward in helping to improve the quality of life in Iraq took place Sunday as the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team officially stood up. The PRTs mission is to help the provincial government develop a transparent and sustained governing capability and to promote security, stability and rule of law through. “We are committed to helping Iraqis stand on their own feet again, and the improvement of local governance and communities is an integral part of this overall effort,” said U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad. “Working together with the Iraqis and the international community we will succeed.” Provincial Reconstruction Teams are multi-agency civil-military initiatives led by the U.S. State Department and work directly with the Iraqi Provincial Governments. Personnel within a PRT come from the State Department, MNF-I, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Justice, and U.S. Agencey for International Development. PRTs are an example of an Iraqi - Coalition partnership to rebuild Iraq 's physical and institutional structures, a critical step in establishing a stable and secure Iraq . Three other teams have already been established in the provinces of Ninewa, Ta'mim and Babil. One region of Iraq is taking steps toward a unity government. Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani announced Sunday he will form his cabinet within the next 30 days. Barzani said he would fill his cabinet with men and women who are “capable, progressive and responsive to all the people of Kurdistan region.” “Today is an important step in the Kurdistan region's march toward more peace, prosperity and progress,” said the Prime Minister. “I want to build a team that holds the values that the people of Kurdistan expect; integrity, leadership and vision.” In a brief statement the Prime Minister expressed his commitment to build a unified Government which will be “a model for economic growth.” “Our team will add to the progress the last government made in the redevelopment of the Kurdistan Region, said Barzani. “We will use the resources of Kurdistan , based on constitutional rights, for the prosperity of all our people.” Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers discovered a large weapons cache while conducting a search Sunday. The cache contained nearly 200 mortar rounds six boxes of fuses. Soldier from the 4th Infantry Division found a weapons cache Saturday while conducting a patrol southeast of Iskandariyah. The cache contained hand grenades and fuses, blasting caps, timer parts, artillery rounds, accelerant rods, bags of artillery propellant, propaganda rounds filled with leaflets and four ammo cans of unidentified content. The day prior, MND-B Soldiers discovered two weapons caches while on a patrol in southern Baghdad . The caches consisted of mortar rounds of various sizes. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the cache. In a progress report released Sunday the Iraqi Ministry of Interior stated their forces along with Iraqi Ministry of Defense forces had defused five IED's in Ubaydi, Yarmouk, Salam and Biea'a areas “within the last three days.” They also reported killing eight terrorists during an attack on a security checkpoint, arrested six other terrorists after finding blood spots inside their car. The MOI report said three of the terrorists tested positive for explosive residue. In Nineveh , Iraqi security forces captured 18 insurgents in Mousl. In Tal Afar, 16 terrorists and 70 mortar rounds were seized. |
| Posted by:ed |