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PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF SECURITY TRANSITION



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 26, 2004

IRAQI POLICE ACTIVELY ENGAGE INSURGENTS



BAGHDAD, Iraq ? The Iraqi Police Service and Iraqi National Guard, supported by a small contingent of Coalition forces, conducted raids of terrorist safe houses and in separate operations, discovered vehicle born improvised explosive devices in the Northern Iraq province of Ninevah earlier this month. The counterinsurgency missions were part of an aggressive stance taken by the police chief in that province.

?We were able to capture a lot of weapons and explosives, and we also captured a terrorist gang that included two Iranians. In another raid we found the leader of a terrorists? gang,? said Maj. Gen. Mohammad Barhawi, the chief of police for the Ninevah province. ?The results were very good.?

The raids, conducted July 1-12 in Mosul, focused on finding insurgents responsible for a spate of attacks in the Northern region. Simultaneously as the raids were conducted, aggressive Iraqi police patrolling on the streets of Mosul led to the discovery of three car bombs on July 11, 17, and 22.

?We did a house to house search in buildings where we suspected there would be terrorists, weapons and explosives,? said Barhawi who organized and led the raids. The suspects, Barhawi said, ?? Were involved in attacking Iraqi police, Coalition forces, and the Iraqi people; that is what they have openly confessed to. These are remnants of the former regime.?

The raids yielded a bounty of weapons: two SA-7 launchers?low-altitude, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile systems equipped with six missiles, 20 rockets, 10 rifles, and 45 grenades. A criminal gang responsible for thefts in the area was also apprehended during the raids.

?We saved many innocent people from death,? Barhawi said.

Barhawi?s men also discovered three car bombs, each with approximately half a ton of explosives in it, set to explode in the Mosul area?one of them parked near a mosque. Barhawi said the terrorists planned to detonate the bomb as worshippers left the holy site.

?Unfortunately we did not arrest anyone in these cases, but we?re looking for them,? Barhawi said.

The aggressive posture reflects the police chief?s philosophy in dealing with the terrorists: police should go on the offensive.

?We are very proud that we are able to conduct these operations on our own and provide security to our people. The reason we can do these operations now is the good training we received from the Coalition,? Barhawi said.

Barhawi said that his forces are planning to put continued pressure on the terrorists.

?We will not allow the terrorists to intimidate us,? Barhawi said. ?No mercy,? he said coolly. ?We?re determined to capture and kill the terrorists ? The people of Mosul look at the police as their sons and brothers there to serve the people and provide law and order.?

Coalition forces, now predominantly supporting the police in an advisory capacity on the streets, are impressed with the Iraqis performance.

?These operations show what the Iraqi police are capable of if you get the equipping, training and leadership right,? said the Head of the Coalition Police Assistance Training Team Brig. Andrew MacKay. ?We are seeing an increasing confidence within the Iraqi Police Service as they realize they are more than a match for the terrorists - even more so when they are led by officers of Maj Gen Barhawi?s ability,? Mackay said.

Barhawi, 47, known for his pragmatic approach to combating insurgents offers a warning to the terrorists.

?No mercy,? Barhawi said.

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