Coalition, Iraqi Forces Record Successes Against Insurgents

Iraqi army soldiers of 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 9th Mechanized Division, and U.S. soldiers 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, conducted a joint raid on a suspected terrorist's home in the early-morning hours of Sept. 23.

The combined force moved in and surrounded the house, catching a high-ranking insurgent and his brother off guard. The brothers were wanted for previous insurgent attacks in the Taji area. They are also believed to be responsible for capturing and torturing an Iraqi Police officer who later escaped.

Elsewhere, Iraqi security forces and multinational forces from Task Force Freedom seized four weapons caches, detained 13 suspected terrorists, killed one and injured two terrorists during operations Sept. 23 and 24.

Iraqi police engaged and wounded two terrorists after receiving small-arms fire in Mosul Sept. 23. One individual fled, and the other was transported to a local hospital.

U.S. soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, killed one terrorist after being attacked with small-arms fire while patrolling in Tal Afar Sept. 24. The 2/3 ACR also detained eight individuals suspected of terrorist activity during two operations in Tal Afar Sept. 23. Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, detained an individual suspected of terrorist activity during a cordon and search in Tal Afar.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, seized four weapons caches during a cordon-and-search operation in Tal Afar Sept. 24. The caches included various explosive devices, artillery shells, gas tanks, numerous mortar rounds, mines, grenades, AK-47 rifles, blasting caps, remote detonation devices, protective masks, various ammunition, rocket-propelled-grenade parts, RPG rounds, and medical equipment. The weapons were confiscated for future destruction.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, detained four individuals suspected of terrorist activity and seized explosives and small arms with magazines in Mosul Sept. 23.

In other news from Iraq, a combined Iraqi army and Task Force Baghdad traffic control point was the target of an insurgent car bomb Sept. 24.

Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, were assisting Iraqi soldiers in the Karadah district when the attack occurred. Two Iraqi soldiers were killed and three were wounded. Two Iraqi civilians were also killed.

"With each day that passes the Iraqi army is taking greater responsibility for securing their country," U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert Roth, commander of 1st Battalion, 64th Armor, said. "It is clear to me that the insurgents will not shake their resolve."

(Compiled from Task Force Freedom and Task Force Baghdad news releases.)