The 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police was pulled back for reorganization and retraining. Official Department of Defense photo.

BAGHDAD

“Based on information from a recently detained al-Qaida in Iraq member, coalition forces on September 28th detained a former driver and personal assistant of Abu al-Masri along with 31 others during a series of raids that were conducted in the Baghdad area specifically targeting al-Qaida in Iraq targets,” Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Multi National Force Iraq spokesman said during a press conference Oct. 4.

This is the second close associate of Abu al-Masri captured in September, also believed to have been one of his personal drivers.  Intelligence indicates his participation in the 2005 bombings of the Sheraton and the Al Hamra hotels in Baghdad that killed a total of 16 people and injured 65 others. 

“In regards to al-Qaida in Iraq, Iraqi and coalition forces during the month of September killed over 110 terrorists and detained over 520 of them in 164 operations,” Caldwell added. “Of those, 50 were foreign fighters that were killed and 16 captured, … that is a significant upturn from the numbers that we had during the month of August.” 

The momentum following Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s death continues as successful operations by Iraqi and Coalition forces combined with information provided by detainees is contributing to the destruction of al-Qaida in Iraq.

Caldwell also addressed the Iraqi Ministry of Interior no-notice recall of the 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police.  

“This brigade is being pulled off line immediately.  They will report to a forward operating base to reorganize and begin, specifically, anti-militia, anti-sectarian violence and national unity training both at the unit level and at the individual level,” Caldwell said.

This brigade’s past performance has not demonstrated the level or professionalism sought by the Ministry of Interior. 

“There are clearly units within the police forces that need retraining, but there are also others that have proven themselves to be very competent and professional units,” Caldwell said.   

In other developments throughout Iraq:

• Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces detained two suspected insurgents and captured a sizable cache Sept. 29 in a combined operation in Khan Bani Sa’ad, Iraq, south of Baqubah.

• Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, and 1st BCT, 4th Infantry Division, confiscated illegal munitions in Baghdad Oct. 3. While conducting combat operations at approximately 8 a.m. in Baghdad’s Al Bayaa district.  

• Four Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers died at approximately 9 a.m. Oct. 4 when terrorists attacked their patrol with indirect and small-arms fire northwest of Baghdad.