American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON,

Nov. 25, 2005

  - Six U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq in recent days, military officials reported. A Task Force Baghdad soldier was killed when an M1 Abrams tank was involved in a single-vehicle accident Nov. 24 south of Baghdad, officials said. Also on Nov. 24, two soldiers were killed when their patrol struck a roadside bomb southwest of Baghdad. On Nov. 23, two Task Force Baghdad soldiers died of gunshot wounds southwest of Baghdad, and a Task Force Baghdad soldier died of a gunshot wound in central Baghdad. The soldiers' names are being withheld pending notification of their families. In other news from Iraq, Iraqi security forces and Task Force Baghdad soldiers responded to a suicide car bomb attack in Mahmudiyah. Initial reports indicated 18 Iraqi civilians and six security guards with Force Protection Services were killed in the terrorist attack at the Mahmudiyah Hospital, and at least 30 other civilians were wounded. Four U.S. soldiers also were wounded, officials said. Task Force Baghdad civil affairs soldiers were at the hospital conducting an assessment for upgrades to the facility when the car bomb detonated. Officials said the target appears to have been the hospital, but the terrorist was unable to penetrate the security perimeter before detonating. Initial reports indicate there was no structural damage to the hospital. Iraqi army soldiers and additional Task Force Baghdad soldiers secured the site and provided medical support. Also on Nov. 24, a bomb exploded near a Multinational Division Central-South engineering patrol work site Nov. 24. Three division soldiers were slightly wounded and an Iraqi child was killed as a result of the blast. The incident took place near Camp Echo in Diwaniyah. In other news from Iraq, about 200 Iraqi army soldiers and 250 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team concluded Operation Lions in the Tammim area of Ramadi on Nov. 24. The operation resulted in 20 suspected terrorists being detained, officials said. Lions is the third in a series of disruption operations that aimed to capture or kill al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists in the Ramadi area and deny them the ability to influence the Iraqi people there, officials said. Operations Panthers and Bruins denied terrorists the ability to operate in northern Ramadi. On Nov. 23, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, with air support from other coalition forces, destroyed a house booby-trapped with explosives. Terrorists had attacked Iraqi army soldiers with an improvised explosive device Nov. 21. U.S. soldiers with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, secured and searched the area of the attack, resulting in the discovery of the booby-trapped house, believed to be a terrorist hideout. Soldiers secured the house and waited for an explosives ordnance disposal team to arrive on the scene to assess the situation. After EOD investigated the house and Task Force Baghdad officials ensured the surrounding area was clear of civilians, 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Division, conducted an air strike on the house in coordination with 3rd Infantry Division and 18th Airborne Corps. The area was cleared, and two Air Force F-16 jets precisely guided two 500-pound bombs onto the structure and destroyed the target. The precision-guided bombs used, better known as the GBU-38, were Joint Direct Attack Munitions, U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials said. JDAMS are especially designed to reduce collateral damage, limit unintended casualties and take the fight up close and personal to enemy insurgents, officials said. This bomb autonomously navigates to the designated target coordinates, which can be loaded into the aircraft before takeoff and manually altered by the aircrew before weapon release if necessary, officials explained. A tip from a local citizen on the location of a weapons cache in the Tissa Nissan district of eastern Baghdad resulted in the destruction of the weapons Nov 23. Elements of 1st Battalion, 64th Armor, responded to the site and discovered 31 60 mm mortar rounds and 19 120 mm mortar rounds. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the scene and conducted a controlled detonation of the munitions. Task Force Baghdad and Iraqi soldiers saw numerous small victories Nov. 22 over the terrorist effort in eastern Baghdad, officials said. Around 9:30 a.m., elements of 1st Battalion, 64th Armor, discovered a roadside bomb in a pile of trash. An explosives ordnance disposal team was called to the scene and conducted a controlled detonation of the device. At noon, another roadside bomb was spotted by elements of 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry. An EOD team was called to the site and transported the device to another location. Looking for terrorist activity, elements of the Iraqi 2nd Public Order Brigade searched numerous homes in Zafaraniya as part of a joint operation with 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery. "The POB units have gotten very comfortable with cordon-and-search missions. They acted very professionally and are pretty much operating on their own," said Capt. Jason Pelletier, commander of A Battery, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery. During the joint operation, one local resident turned over a bag of 59 hand grenades and 10 feet of explosive detonating cord. At about 5:30 p.m., 3/7 Cavalry soldiers responded to a tip from a local citizen and secured a roadside bomb before it could be used against Iraqi civilians, Iraqi security forces or coalition forces. An EOD team removed the device to another location. Acting on multiple intelligence sources and tips from concerned citizens, coalition forces raided a suspected Jaysh al-Mujahideen terrorist safe house in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad, Oct. 23, officials announced Nov. 24. Captured during the raid was Ahmad Nimah Khudayyir Abbas, also known as Abu Shihab, a recently identified lieutenant in the Jaysh al-Mujahideen insurgent group, who oversaw the organization's propaganda cell and commanded several mortar and improvised explosive device cells, officials said. Abu Shihab, officials said, recorded videos and digitized them to compact disc for distribution to various terrorist groups. These videos would then be downloaded to various jihadist Web sites as propaganda against Iraqi security and coalition forces. The videos would be used to recruit terrorists and foreign fighters, as well as to provide information on potential targets for other terrorists. As his skills and terrorist connections developed, officials said, he began directing and coordinating media operations throughout the Baghdad area for Jaysh al-Mujahideen. In the air war over Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 42 close-air-support missions Nov. 24. 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. Twelve U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1228-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov 26, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties             


The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers whowere supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  They died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Nov. 24,when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV causing it to flipinto a canal.  Both soldiers were assigned to the Army's 170th Military PoliceCompany, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis,Wash.               

Killed were:             

Staff Sgt. Steven C. Reynolds, 32, of Jordan, N.Y.               

Pfc. Marc A. Delgado, 21, of Lithia, Fla.               


For further information related to this release, contact Army PublicAffairs at (703) 692-2000.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1222-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov 23, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty             

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.               

Spc. Matthew P. Steyart, 21, of Mount Shasta, Calif., died in Shah WaliKot, Afghanistan, on Nov. 22, when an improvised explosive device detonated nearhis HMMWV during patrol operations.  Steyart was assigned to the 1st Battalion,508th Infantry Regiment, Vicenza, Italy.               

For further information related to this release, contact Army PublicAffairs at (703) 692-2000.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1223-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov 23, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty             

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.               

Pfc. John W. Dearing, 21, of Hazel Park, Mich., died in Habbaniyah,Iraq on Nov. 21, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWVduring combat operations.  Dearing was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1stBattalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Saginaw, Mich.               

For further information related to this release, contact Army PublicAffairs at (703) 692-2000. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1225-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov 23, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty               

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.             

Sgt. Denis J. Gallardo, 22, of St. Petersburg, Fla., died in Tal Afar,Iraq, on Nov. 22, from a non-combat related illness.  Gallardo was assigned to the Army's 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.             

For further information related to this release, contact Army PublicAffairs at (703) 692-2000.   

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1226-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov 25, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty             

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.               

Spc. Allen J. Knop, 22, of Willowick, Ohio, died in Baghdad, Iraq, onNov. 23, from non-combat related injuries.  Knop was assigned to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st AirborneDivision, Fort Campbell, Ky. The incident is under investigation.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at(703) 692-2000. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1227-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov 26, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty             

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.               

Spc. Javier A. Villanueva, 25, of Temple, Texas, died in Al Asad, Iraq,on Nov. 24, of injuries sustained in Hit, Iraq, on Nov. 23, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol during combat operations. Villanueva was assigned to the Army's 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment,Fort Irwin, Calif.               

For further information related to this release, contact Army PublicAffairs at (703) 692-2000. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1224-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov 23, 2005

Media Contact: Navy Public Affairs - (703) 697-5342Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty           

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.   Petty Officer 3rd Class Emory J. Turpin, 23, of Dahlonega, Ga., died Nov. 20 whenhe drowned in the Seychelles.  Turpin was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 currently deployed to the Seychelles.   

For further information related to this release, contact Navy Public Affairs at(703) 697-5342.   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.) 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON,

Nov. 23, 2005  -

A U.S. servicemember and an Afghan interpreter were killed Nov. 22 when their up-armored Humvee struck a roadside bomb south of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, military officials reported. The soldier and interpreter were part of a re-supply convoy supporting forces conducting operations aimed at defeating enemy forces in the area at the time of the detonation, officials noted. "We're saddened by our loss of our comrade and our thoughts are with his family especially at this time when we gather to give thanks for the blessings and liberties secured by the sacrifices such as those of this brave soldier," said Brig. Gen. Jack Sterling Jr., Combined Joint Task Force 76 deputy commanding general for support. "This loss will not deter us from helping the Afghan people defend the ever-increasing recovery of this war-torn country from those whose only vision for Afghanistan is oppression, brutality and violence," Sterling said. An investigation team was flown to the site. The name and unit of the servicemember are being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. Elsewhere, volunteer firefighters and firemen from NATO's Headquarters International Security Assistance Force extinguished a small fire in a building at Camp Eggers in the Afghan capital of Kabul today, officials said. There were no injuries or mission disruptions as a result of the fire. Officials said an inadvertent spark from contractors, who were welding on the building's roof, may have ignited the fire. "Our Camp Eggers volunteer firefighters responded as seasoned professionals to their first fire," said Col. Jim Yonts, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan spokesman. "Their training drills have built the discipline and skills needed to keep this headquarters functioning in spite of emergencies, be they large or small. "The ISAF fire department's rapid response provided the necessary backup capability to ensure our operations continue uninterrupted," Yonts continued. "They are our partners in every sense, and we're grateful for their assistance." Camp Eggers is named in honor of Army Special Forces Capt. Daniel Eggers of Cape Coral, Fla., who was killed May 29, 2004, when his vehicle swerved to avoid a mine and was hit by a roadside bomb near Kandahar, Afghanistan. In the air war over Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 20 close-air-support missions Nov. 22 to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and the conduct of presence route patrols, Air Force officials said. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II jets and a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle provided close-air support to coalition forces in contact with enemy militia near Orgun-E. Three Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft also flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan, officials noted. Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III transports provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. The more than 165 airlift sorties included about 28,000 pounds of civic aid airdropped in central Afghanistan.

(Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)