An Iraqi Army patrolÂ’s vigilance thwarted a suicide bomber in Mosul Saturday, causing him to prematurely detonate his suicide vest. The Soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division noticed the individual suspiciously approaching their position. They began shouting at the suspect and fired warning shots. The suicide bomber immediately detonated his vest. There were no injuries to civilians or ISF.
In a different operation, acting on a tip from a local Iraqi citizen, Iraqi Army Soldiers and Coalition Forces raided the residence of a suspected improvised explosive device facilitator in the northern Iraq city of Aitha, Sept. 12. Though the target suspect was not at home, the soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division discovered a weapons cache containing 50 lbs. of assorted homemade explosive and artillery propellant, 20 hand grenades, one assault rifle, one machine gun and assorted IED-making materials. Iraqi Security Forces confiscated additional weapons and explosives and seized three fully-loaded black market fuel trucks found at the site.
“The ISF are truly leading the way and taking the fight to the enemy here in Nineveh,” said Col. Stephen Twitty, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “They are continuously reacting to intelligence and executing strikes that have resulted in the capture of a large number of suspected enemy fighters and the removal of large amounts of IED-making materials and supplies from the province.” In the past 10 days, ISF and CF have killed eight enemy fighters, captured over 200 suspected enemy fighters, and seized numerous caches of small arms, ammunition, explosives, and IED-making materials in support of Operation Lightning Hammer II, a joint ISF and Coalition effort.