Iraqi Special Operations Forces Kill 22 During Engagement in Basra

Ministry of National Defense soldiers say they also had separate engagements in Baghdad March 29th.

Iraqi army soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Military Iraqi and U.S. Army soldiers react to small arms fire during a joint battlefield circulation patrol a few days ago in Mosul, Iraq. The U.S. Soldiers are assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division Military Transition Team and a personal security detachment from 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson, U.S. Air Force.

(BAGHDAD, Iraq) - Officials with the Iraqi Special Operations Forces say they set up a special operation in a known criminal stronghold in western Basra March 29th to disrupt criminal activities and capture criminal leaders.

En route to their target, the ISOF soldiers say they were engaged multiple times by small arms and rocket propelled grenades. Upon arrival at the target, and under fire, the ground assault force entered a building and killed 4 enemy fighters. Ground forces cleared the structure, finding 2 women and 5 children who were unharmed.

While at the target location, ISOF came under enemy fire from ground level and roof-top locations. They killed 2 enemy fighters on an apartment roof. While engaged with hostile forces, ISOF and a supporting U.S. Special Forces team identified additional armed criminal elements in the area.

A supporting aircraft identified enemy forces on three roof-tops and engaged with precision gunfire after being cleared by ground forces. Initial reports indicate 16 criminal fighters were killed. Two ISOF Soldiers were wounded during the op.

In other news from Iraq, Ministry of National Defense soldiers in Baghdad say they engaged and killed 11 criminals in separate engagements in Baghdad March 29th.

Involved in the engagements were soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th ID, and Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. "Along with our Iraqi SF partners, we are targeting individual criminal networks and anyone involved in violent crimes against the Iraqi people," said Col. Allen Batschelet, chief of staff, MND-B. "We will continue to conduct precision ops based on substantial evidence of criminal activity."