Paratroopers with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, detain two suspected terrorists Aug. 11, 2007, during a raid in Samarra, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua R. Ford (released)
Odierno Highlights Iraqi Operations
Iraqi and Coalition forces are pursuing extremist leaders in Iraq's remote areas in coordinated "quick strikes" launched this week, the commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq told Pentagon reporters Saturday.
Operation Phantom Strike is a series of joint operations that extend from Operation Phantom Thunder, a corps-level offensive that began in June targeting al-Qaeda, Sunni insurgents and Shiia extremists in, near and around Baghdad, said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno.
"With the elimination of safe havens and support zones due to Phantom Thunder, al-Qaeda and Shiite extremists have been forced into ever-shrinking areas. It is my intent to pursue and disrupt their operations," Odierno said.
Over the coming weeks, the general said, combined forces will conduct quick-strike raids against extremist sanctuaries and staging areas. Using precision-targeting operations, troops will target terrorist leaders and members of lethal improvised-explosive-device and car-bomb networks, he said.
"We will continue to hunt down the leadership, deny them safe haven, disrupt their supply lines and significantly reduce their capability to operate in Iraq," Odierno added.
In the first 24 hours of one "quick-strike" raid, Multi-National Division-North Soldiers captured and killed several enemies and seized weapons caches in the Diyala River Valley. Called Operation Lightning Hammer, this operation targeted extremists as they tried to re-establish sanctuaries, the general said.
Odierno highlighted some successes of Operation Phantom Thunder, which launched June 15. In 142 battalion-level joint operations, Iraqi and Coalition forces detained 6,702 suspects, killed 1,196 enemies and wounded 419 others. Combined forces also killed or captured 382 high-value targets, he said.
Troops also cleared 1,113 weapons caches and scores of IEDs and car bombs. "The number of found and cleared IEDs, (car bombs) and caches are approximately 50 percent higher than the same period last year due, in large part, to effective tips provided by concerned Iraqi citizens," the general added.
Odierno warned that high-profile attacks may rise as two important dates approach. In the early weeks of September, Ramadan, Islam's holiest month, begins. U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, is slated to present an anticipated report to Congress around the same time.
"Our enemy is ruthless and will no doubt attempt to exploit the upcoming Ramadan season, as well as influence political opinions in the coming weeks by increasing attacks with particular emphasis on high-profile terror attacks," he said.
But extremists' efforts are increasingly hampered by civilians who cooperate with coalition forces as troops ramp-up raids around the country, Odierno said.
"Al-Qaeda and other extremist elements will have to contend with an Iraqi population that no longer welcomes them," he said, "as well as quick-hitting offensive operations by Coalition and Iraqi forces."
Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq
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Clearing operations in Samarra strike hard at insurgency
By Sgt. Joshua R. Ford, Public Affairs Office, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
Aug 18, 2007 - 4:35:25 PM
Paratroopers with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, detain two suspected terrorists Aug. 11, 2007, during a raid in Samarra, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua R. Ford (released)
Blackanthem Military News, SAMARRA, Iraq - Paratroopers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, have been patrolling and operating in Samarra, Iraq, for more than one year and recently supported the Iraqi security forces in a clearing operation to rid the city of the al Qaeda presence terrorizing Samarra and its citizens.
The operation was dubbed "Operation Jalil" in honor of Col. Jalil Nahi Hasoun, Samarra's former police chief, who was killed May 6, 2007, during a suicide car bomb attack.
The operation led Maj. Gen. Rashid al-Helfy, commander of Iraqi security forces in Samarra, his men, and Paratroopers of Company C to the discovery of weapons caches, bomb making materials and the detainment of more than 80 suspected terrorists, including suspects responsible for the June 13, 2007, bombing of the Askirya Mosque.
The Askirya Mosque, also known as the Golden Dome Shrine, was first bombed Feb. 22, 2006, and sparked a wave of sectarian violence throughout the country. The explosion collapsed the dome.
The June 13 bombing destroyed the two remaining minarets flanking the golden dome of the mosque.
Since then, more than 2,500 Iraqi soldiers from the 4th Iraqi army, and policemen from the 6th National Police Division, have been deployed to the city to create a stable security situation. Including Operation Jalil, Company C has also detained more than 200 insurgents since the second mosque attack.
When the Iraqi national police first arrived in Samarra, they received anything but a warm welcome. The people of Samarra were very hesitant to receive the policemen, said Capt. Buddy Ferris, commander, Company C.
Now the citizens of Samarra are very receptive to the national police, and the Paratroopers from Company C have seen this through the vast amount of information they receive everyday from the people in Samarra about terrorists operating in their neighborhoods, Ferris added.
"(The Paratroopers) like to see that the Iraqis are taking the lead," said Ferris. "We will continue to push forward the Iraqi security forces so they can provide a stable enough environment so we can start developing a legitimate government that functions and is tied in with the (Salah ad Din) province."
The 150-Paratrooper force are responsible for securing a city of more than 150,000. Two years ago the U.S. Army needed a whole brigade of more than 3,000 Soldiers to secure the city.
Since the Paratroopers of Company C have been in Samarra, they have killed more than 50 terrorists and detained more than 300.
The Paratroopers of Company C have done an outstanding job in Samarra since they arrived in August 2006. They always have a good attitude in wanting to help the citizens in the city, said Sgt. Tim Curry, team leader, Company C.
"(The Paratroopers) have been holding the lid on the city of Samarra for a year. This company has been able to hold Samarra in one piece, so to say, and has actually been able to make progress and it speaks volumes," said Ferris. "(The Paratroopers) are tired; we are at month 13, but we know we're making a difference."
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