Terrorists attacked the Joint Security Station (JSS) in Bayji, Iraq, on Monday, killing seventeen Iraqi police and wounding fourteen others. Five U.S. Soldiers received minor injuries in the attack that included a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and a subsequent attack.A car bomb detonated at around 8:30 a.m., causing damage to the police barracks as well as significant damage to the outer wall of the JSS. The car bomb attack was followed by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades from at least 30 insurgents involved in the attack.
IPs and U.S. Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, repelled the insurgents, killing two and wounded several others, while keeping control over the JSS. “This is a cowardly attack by an enemy whose actions and objectives are contrary to what the Iraqi people want,” said Lt. Col. Scott Harris, commander of the airborne battalion, whose forces established the JSS and work with the IPs. “The terrorists bring nothing but chaos and do not offer a better future. Col. Saad Nafoos, the Bayji chief of police, and I are committed to providing security to the people of Bayji, and this act does nothing more than increase our resolve,” he added.
Task Force 1-505 and the 303rd Military Police Company established the JSS three months ago, enabling the IPs to improve and conduct independent operations. “This is a setback, but nothing more than that,” said Harris. “We will continue to take the fight to the enemy. Saad’s police have disrupted numerous terrorist cells, detained important terrorists in our area and will rebound from this with an even greater motivation to succeed.”
Task Force 1-505 plans to make necessary force protection repairs and improvements as well as continue with their partnership with the IPs. “The terrorists’ mission failed,” Harris continued. “They did not succeed in driving us out or intimidate the IPs, who fought back bravely. In fact, their attack will turn even more of the people of Bayji against them.”
Salah ad Din governor Hamed Hamoud Shekti approved a city-wide, three-day curfew shortly after the attack, which began at 9 p.m.