Iraqi security forces demonstrate increased proficiency

Iraqi security forces continue to demonstrate increased proficiency and capabilities as they focus on improving security and restoring peace throughout Iraq.

In eastern Mosul Saturday, Iraqi police officers and soldiers defeated a complex attack by terrorists; and attack that included a suicide bomber using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, several IEDs and small arms fire.

The Iraqi security forces were led by Iraqi police officers and supported by Iraqi soldiers from the 4th Iraqi Army Division. Coalition forces from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, responded to the attack in support of the Iraqi security forces.

Initial news reports from several news agencies, that claimed that more than 20 Iraqi policemen were killed, were incorrect. Additionally, several news organizations ...

Iraqi police from the Doura Police Station and Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers patrol the Doura Market in southern Baghdad.BAGHDAD - Iraqi security forces continue to demonstrate increased proficiency and capabilities as they focus on improving security and restoring peace throughout Iraq.

In eastern Mosul Saturday, Iraqi police officers and soldiers defeated a complex attack by terrorists; and attack that included a suicide bomber using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, several IEDs and small arms fire.

The Iraqi security forces were led by Iraqi police officers and supported by Iraqi soldiers from the 4th Iraqi Army Division. Coalition forces from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, responded to the attack in support of the Iraqi security forces.

Initial news reports from several news agencies, that claimed that more than 20 Iraqi policemen were killed, were incorrect. Additionally, several news organizations were incorrect indicating that the Nineveh Provincial Director of Police, General Wathiq, was killed in the attack. Following the attack, Wathiq spoke to several news agencies via telephone interviews to confirm he was uninjured and to provide information related to the attack.

Six Iraqi police officers, including a police battalion commander from the 3rd Emergency Response Battalion, and one local resident were killed in the attack, and seven Iraqi policemen and four local residents were wounded in the attack. No Coalition Soldiers were injured in the fighting.

Iraqi police in Doura, a neighborhood in southern Baghdad, are also becoming more proficient as they focused on improving security in the capital city, according to 2nd Lt. Terry Gambrel, a platoon leader with Multi-National Division - Baghdad.

The lieutenant said Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4th Infantry Division, have patrolled Doura for months, working alongside Iraqi Police to restore peace to the neighborhood. He said Doura police officers are fast becoming more proficient and capable.

Gambrel and his Soldiers are integrating the Doura police into civil military operations.

Conducting raids, running checkpoints and securing the area from terrorists are all ways the police will achieve the public's confidence, said Gambrel.

Iraqi police in the Zafaraniya area of Baghdad are proving to be very proficient, as well.

Iraqi police Tuesday seized six 107 mm rockets with warheads, each containing more than 15 pounds of TNT, while investigating a possible launch site in the Zafaraniya area.

Coalition Soldiers were also sent to the area to investigate the site, but they found the Iraqi police already had matters in hand when they arrived. By the time Coalition forces arrived, the Iraqi police units had already cordoned off the area and seized the weapons.

The Iraqi police removed the rockets and the launcher and transported them to Forward Operating Base Shield, where the weapons could be safely disposed.

In other developments around Iraq:

Soldiers of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, seized a large cache of explosives and captured four terrorists in Adhamiyah in a predawn raid Friday.

A local national's tip led to the arrest of three terrorists Thursday, south of Baghdad and in a separate incident two terrorists were killed while emplacing a roadside bomb.

The 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team handed over operations in Mosul and other surrounding areas in the Ninewa Province to the 3rd SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division in a transfer of authority ceremony held at Forward Operating Base Marez today.

Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq

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