RELEASE NUMBER: 090112-01
DATE POSTED: JANUARY 12, 2009

ICTF rescues hostages, bust kidnapping ring

U.S. Air Force Capt. Greg Hignite

BAGHDAD (Courtesy of CJSOTF-AP Public Affairs, Jan. 12, 2008) - Two kidnapping victims, an 11- and 23-year-old, were reunited with their families Jan. 7 in Baghdad after Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Forces rescued them, and arrested 12 suspected criminals involved in running a kidnapping ring.

The 11-year old boy was snatched Dec. 25 in front of his home while playing with a friend. The 23-year-old adult was captured at gun point Dec. 20 while traveling in the city. The victims are not related.

The ICTF, a battalion from the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, learned of the child’s disappearance when the distraught father phoned, pleading for help. ICTF built a plan to rescue the boy.

Initially, officials had few leads but worked tirelessly to unravel the kidnapping network with alleged financing and money laundering ties to terrorist groups, according to the ISOF brigade commander.

The kidnappers were attempting to extort $70,000 from the child’s family and $55,000 from the man’s family claiming they would kill each, if the ransom wasn’t paid.

With time working against them, ICTF gathered the required evidence to obtain a warrant from the Counter-Terrorism Bureau to execute the search and rescue mission. Over a span of several nights, ICTF searched homes gathering intelligence.

“The persistence and endurance of the ICTF was absolutely remarkable,” said one of the officers. “Their ability to outlast and outthink the kidnappers was crucial to the success of this mission.”

In the final 72 hours of the operation, Soldiers went without sleep to deliver on a promise they made to the boy’s father.

“Have faith in the operation … believe we will get him back,” said the ICTF operations officer for the mission. “We’re not coming back until we get your child.”

On the final night of the operation, the eve of Ashura (the Shi’a commemoration of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali), ICTF conducted a 13-hour mission to scour Baghdad. After dozens of interviews with neighbors and various sources, the statements provided by one suspicious couple didn’t add up, said an ICTF officer. After careful questioning, the couple provided information about the kidnapping ring and said they would take ICTF to where the victims were being held.

Within minutes, ICTF secured the target residence and captured the kidnappers. The 11- and 23-year-old victims were chained and blindfolded in a back room.

According to the adult victim, he endured “harsh beatings for many days” while being held in captivity. ICTF later learned kidnappers were hitting the victims with hammers of various sizes to beat them into submission.

Despite the beatings, Soldiers later learned the child tried to escape twice. On one occasion the child made it all the way to the front door but couldn’t get the lock open. “He was very brave,” said an ICTF official.

On the morning of Ashura the victims were reunited with family members shortly after the rescue mission. “This is the best feeling in my life,” said the boy’s father with tears in his eyes. The other kidnap victim was embraced by his brother. “It all seems like a bad dream … and I just woke up,” said the 23-year-old victim.

Both victims, and their families, were amazed by the speed and persistence of ICTF. “I had no idea (ICTF) was so good,” said the adult victim. 

The boy’s father spoke to the Soldiers following the operation and said he could never fully thank them for their service. “For 13 days I had no hope … and you always promised me you would get him back,” he said to the crowd. “Each of you is so brave, so ethical … with every mission you’re trying to make Iraq better.”

The ICTF officer who initially promised the father that he would return his son, later commented that he would gladly give his life for three causes: For his family; for the men in his unit; and to see an Iraqi child smile … because they are the future of this country.

That same ICTF officer carried the 11-year-old boy in his arms from the kidnapper’s home and delivered him safely to his father’s arms.

--usasoc--