Saturday, November 26, 2005

Soldier Dies in Roadside Bomb Explosion

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2005 - A soldier assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was killed in an improvised explosive device attack while conducting combat operations against the enemy in Hit, Iraq, Nov. 25, military officials reported today.

The soldier's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

In other news from Iraq, about 150 Iraqi army soldiers and 400 coalition troops including U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team attached to the 2nd Marine Division kicked off Operation Tigers this morning in eastern Ramadi.
Operation Tigers is the fourth in a series of disruption operations executed by the Iraqi army and coalition forces to set the conditions for a successful Dec. 15 election in the capital city of Iraq's Anbar province, officials said.

The previous operations, which began Nov. 16, were called Panthers, Bruins and Lions. Since they began, the Ramadi operations have resulted in the death or capture of numerous terrorists and the discovery of several weapons caches that included surface-to-air missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, rockets, mortar rounds, artillery rounds, hand grenades, land mines, small arms, small-arms ammunition and IED-making equipment, officials said.

Cordon-and-search operations -- blocking off known terrorist escape routes and searching for weapons and terrorists in the targeted areas -- are incorporated as part of Operation Tigers, officials explained.

U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security forces found a large weapons cache while conducting a joint patrol in Baghdad's North Babil district on the afternoon of Nov. 24, officials said.

Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and Iraqi army soldiers from 4th Battalion, 5th Brigade, discovered 15 125 mm mortar rounds, 20 heavy-machine gun rounds, six 60 mm mortar rounds, and two boxes of 14.5 mm ammunition. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the scene and conducted a controlled detonation of the munitions.

in the air war over Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 43 close-air-support missions Nov. 25. These missions included support to Coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Coalition aircraft also supported Iraqi and Coalition ground forces operations to create a secure environment for ongoing Transitional National Assembly meetings.

In addition, 11 U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Also, Royal Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a nontraditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)

Related Sites:

Multinational Force Iraq [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/]

U.S. Central Command Air Forces [http://www.centaf.af.mil/]

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2005/20051126_3445.html.

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Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, that spotlights what Americans are doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home and abroad.

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Visit the Defense Department's Web site for the latest news
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Americans Give Special Thanks to U.S. Troops, Bush Says

By Petty Officer 3rd Class John R. Guardiano, USN
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2005 - On this Thanksgiving Day weekend, all Americans are reminded of the debt of gratitude they owe to the men, women and families of the United States military, President Bush said today in his weekly radio address.

"We are grateful to the men and women of our armed forces for securing the peace in these dangerous times," the president said. "They are serving with courage and skill in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere to defend our freedom and extend the blessings of freedom to others."

Bush noted that U.S. military service today is demanding; it often includes "long deployments and separations from home." And those left behind stateside, he added, also face difficult challenges because they "must deal with the burden of raising families, while praying for the safe return of their loved ones."

"All Americans," the president said, "honor and appreciate the commitment and sacrifice of our military families."

Bush singled out fallen servicemen and women for special praise. "Every person who dies in the line of duty," he said, "commands the eternal gratitude of the American people. The military families who mourn the fallen can know that America will not forget their sacrifice -- and they can know that we will honor that sacrifice by completing the noble mission for which their loved ones gave their lives."

The president noted that troops fighting in the global war on terrorism have achieved great success. Indeed, because the U.S. military is fighting terrorists abroad, "we do not have to face (terrorists) here at home," he explained.

U.S. troops, Bush added, also have "helped the people of Iraq and Afghanistan hold historic and successful elections." The nation's servicemen and women, he said, "are America's finest, and we thank them today and every day for their service and sacrifice."

The president observed that Thanksgiving is a national holiday during which Americans give thanks for the many blessings of liberty.

"We are thankful," Bush said, "for our family and friends, who fill our lives with joy and love. We are thankful for the abundance of this prosperous land. We are thankful for the freedom that makes possible the enjoyment of all these gifts. And we acknowledge with humility that all these blessings -- and life itself -- come from almighty God."

Americans recognize, Bush said, that because they are so blessed, they have an obligation to help those who are less fortunate.

"The Thanksgiving holiday," he explained, "reminds us that, 'to whom much is given, from him much will be required.' As we count our blessings, we are mindful of the need to share our blessings and gifts with others -- and America is moved to compassionate action."

Bush said that such compassionate action is manifest in Americans' generous response to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But "the universal call to love a neighbor," he added, "also extends beyond our shores, moving us to help people in other lands."

Bush noted that America also "has begun to help the millions of people in Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan who are suffering after last month's devastating earthquake in South Asia."

Related Site:

President Bush's Nov. 26, 2005, Radio Address [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051126.html]

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2005/20051126_3444.html.

====================================================

Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, that spotlights what Americans are doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home and abroad.

====================================================
Visit the Defense Department's Web site for the latest news
and information about America's response to the war against terrorism: "Defend America" at http://www.DefendAmerica.mil.

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Relative Confirms Oct. 14 Raid Killed Zarqawi Confidant

American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Nov. 26, 2005 - A family member and coalition sources have confirmed that Oct. 14 raids killed a close confidant of fugitive Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, military officials reported today.

Bilal Mahmud Awad Shebah, also known as Abu Ubaydah, reportedly met weekly with Zarqawi, officials said.

Although intelligence assessments indicated at the time that Abu Ubaydah had been killed in the raids north of Ramadi, officials said, analysts could not then determine his death with certainty.

In late November, coalition forces received information from knowledgeable sources and a close family member of Abu Ubaydah, claiming independently that Zarqawi's confidant was killed in the raids.

Detained al Qaeda members say Abu Ubaydah served as an "executive secretary" for Zarqawi, meeting with the terrorist leader frequently, serving as his messenger and gatekeeper, and screening all messages and requests for meetings. Detainees also claim he provided Zarqawi with safe house locations and used intimidation and death threats to gain the cooperation of the Iraqi people to support al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist activity, detainees.
During the course of the raids, conducted on the eve of Iraq's constitutional referendum, several weapons caches, containing mortar rounds, small arms and ammunition, were found and destroyed. Bombs made from mortar rounds also were planted along the road leading to the safe houses as a defense against incoming vehicle or foot traffic.

Coalition forces were engaged by small-arms fire upon their arrival to the suspected terrorist location and immediately returned fire. Combining the ground attack with the use of close-air support, the terrorists' hideout locations were destroyed. No coalition forces were injured or killed during the raids.

(From a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)

Related Site:

Multinational Force Iraq [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/]

Related Article:

Coalition Detains 24 Terrorists, Kills 12 Others, in Ramadi Raids [http://www.dod.mil/news/Oct2005/20051015_3059.html]

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2005/20051126_3443.html.

====================================================

Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, that spotlights what Americans are doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home and abroad.

====================================================
Visit the Defense Department's Web site for the latest news
and information about America's response to the war against terrorism: "Defend America" at http://www.DefendAmerica.mil.

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