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WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2008 – Coalition forces detained eight suspected terrorists yesterday and today as they continued to run down the al-Qaida in Iraq network, especially in the Hamrin Mountains region, where they detained four wanted men, military officials reported. One of the wanted men, captured yesterday near Qara Tappa with one alleged associate, is believed to be a senior advisor for al-Qaida in Iraq operations around the Hamrin Mountains. Three other wanted men in the region were captured in an operation today, along with one additional suspect. One of the wanted men allegedly operates an attack cell that also...

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2008 – Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 14 suspected terrorists and found weapon caches during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said. Today in northern Iraq, coalition and Iraqi forces captured seven suspected terrorists, including an alleged al-Qaida kidnapping cell leader, officials said. U.S. and Iraqi troops detained the alleged cell leader and another suspect in Kirkuk after receiving tips from previously captured associates of the suspects. The alleged cell leader reportedly is tied to kidnappings and terrorist activities in Kirkuk and Salahuddin provinces, officials said. Coalition forces captured five other suspected terrorists during an operation near...

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2008 – Coalition and Iraqi forces detained four suspects and seized caches of weapons in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said. Coalition forces captured two suspected members of Iranian-backed “special groups” today during operations in Baghdad’s Shula district, military officials said. One of the suspects is a senior member of a Baghdad-based cell who received weapons and intelligence training in Iran and acts as an agent of the Islamic Republic, according to an associate detained in a prior operation. During two-day operations that culminated yesterday, Iraqi National Police and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained...

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2008 – Iraq’s Baqubah Emergency Response Force detained a suspected al-Qaida member in Udaim, north of Baghdad, today. The response force conducted the operation to disrupt al-Qaida’s movement and decrease the terrorist organization’s intimidation attacks on the local Iraqis in the Udaim River Valley area, officials said. The detained man is believed to be part of a mortar and rocket cell that targets Iraqi security and coalition forces and local citizens, officials said. During the operation, ground intelligence indicated that two buildings were rigged with homemade bombs and posed a threat to ground forces. The emergency response...

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq today captured a man believed to be the leader of an Iranian-backed enemy “special group” and another who's an alleged al-Qaida chieftain during separate operations conducted near Kut and in Mosul, respectively, military officials said. Coalition forces captured the suspected Iranian-trained explosives expert in Numaniyah, southeast of Baghdad near Kut. Intelligence sources told coalition officials the suspect has numerous Iranian contacts with whom he would meet when smuggling weapons and bomb-making materials into Iraq. Coalition forces entered the suspect’s residence and subdued him without firing any shots after the man made...

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained four suspected terrorists, for attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces, during separate operations in Baghdad and Mosul May 14. In Baghdad, ISOF detained two individuals including a cell leader for Islamic State of Iraq, a front organization for al-Qaeda in Iraq. The men are suspected of conducting indirect fire attacks against Victory Base Complex and improvised explosive device attacks against Baghdad International Airport and Sons of Iraq. In Mosul, ISOF conducted operations that led to the detaining of two suspected IED cell members who are reportedly responsible for IED attacks against the...

BAGHDAD – Iraqi and Coalition forces continued their joint efforts targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq elements in Mosul, detaining three wanted men during precision operations Saturday. Two of the wanted men are believed to have conspired to conduct bombing attacks on Iraqi and Coalition forces. The other wanted man allegedly worked as a weapons facilitator for senior AQI leaders in Mosul. “Iraqi and Coalition forces continue to pursue terrorist elements in Mosul, ensuring there are no safe havens for AQI,” said Maj. John Hall, MNF-I spokesman.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2008 – Coalition forces killed a terrorist, detained suspects, and discovered homemade explosives during a series of operations today and yesterday. In a synchronized effort triggered by intelligence from an April 12 operation, coalition forces descended on targets in Salahuddin province to disrupt al-Qaida foreign terrorist leaders. The coordinated operations seized 21 individuals with alleged ties to the al-Qaida foreign terrorist network. As an operation in Sharqat began, one man rushed coalition forces, who responded to the hostile threat, killing the attacker. Coalition forces also found weapons inside the building and uncovered homemade explosives, which were safely...

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2008 – Coalition forces detained 13 suspected terrorists during operations yesterday and today targeting al-Qaida in Iraq networks in the Tigris River Valley and northwestern Iraq. -- Coalition forces captured two suspected terrorists yesterday during an operation west of Samarra, including an alleged close associate of a regional al-Qaida in Iraq leader. Intelligence gathered yesterday also led the ground force to another target this morning, where they detained two more suspected associates of the al-Qaida leader. -- Using information from recently detained suspects, coalition forces conducted a precision operation southwest of Taji today and apprehended a suspected...

BAGHDAD – Iraqi National Police and Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers on a joint operation captured a key criminal in Jisr Diyala, April 11. The detainee is a known criminal leader in the area responsible for improvised explosive device attacks, indirect fire attacks and weapons smuggling. This criminal is also suspected of recent violence in the area.

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2008 – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 22 suspects today during operations in central and northern Iraq. -- Northeast of Samarra, forces killed two and detained 10 suspects. Forces also found several weapons in the area. Nearby, forces detained another four suspects. They also found three terrorist safe houses and medical supplies and destroyed three weapons caches. -- During two operations northwest of Samarra, coalition forces detained four suspects. -- In Baghdad, forces captured an alleged weapons handler. The suspect reportedly is responsible for a recent shipment of homemade explosives and is connected to car-bomb...

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq detained 11 suspected terrorists today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq, military officials said. -- In Mosul, coalition forces detained four suspects during two operations targeting foreign terrorists associated with al Qaeda in Iraq networks in the western and southeastern regions of the city. -- In Beiji, coalition forces detained two suspects while targeting an alleged associate of a senior-level foreign-terrorist facilitator and al Qaeda senior leaders operating inside and outside of Iraq. -- During operations west of Samarra and near Tikrit, coalition forces detained...

WASHINGTON, March 3, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq today detained 11 suspected terrorists, including an Iranian-supported “special groups” facilitator, military officials reported. The suspected special groups facilitator was detained with another suspected criminal early today in Mashru, south of Baghdad. Intelligence led ground forces to the target area, where they captured the two suspects without incident. The targeted individual reportedly was a special groups logistical advisor for Wasit province. As a logistical leader, he allegedly facilitated the movement of special groups criminals involved in sniper and armor-piercing explosively formed penetrator attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. He also is...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2008 – An armed assailant was killed, and three individuals were detained during a coalition operation yesterday in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province, military officials said. Coalition forces performed a search of compounds in the Tarin Kowt district targeting a Taliban commander responsible for conducting anti-government activities. While searching one of the compounds, coalition forces were engaged by multiple armed assailants barricaded in a building. Coalition forces employing small-arms fire killed one of the assailants. Another armed assailant who fired on coalition forces was captured. Completing the search, coalition forces detained two more individuals with suspected links to the...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2008 – Coalition forces detained 11 suspected terrorists today in two operations focusing on disrupting al Qaeda networks operating in northern and central Iraq. Near Abu Ghraib, forces captured an alleged al Qaeda member associated with procuring weapons from outside Iraq. The suspect reportedly is involved in constructing improvised explosive devices, including booby-trapped houses. Intelligence reports indicate he is associated with other al Qaeda members involved in the weapons-facilitation network, officials said. In addition to the wanted individual, coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists and found numerous bomb-making materials on site. Information gained from the operations in...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq today captured a suspected terrorist scout during operations in the Risalah area of Baghdad, military officials said. The detainee reportedly conducted reconnaissance missions to aid insurgent attacks on coalition forces. He reportedly is skilled in intelligence-gathering, computers and forging documents. The detainee also is reported to be an associate of Iranian-trained criminal-element leaders involved in attacks on coalition forces. “We will continue to target any group with followers that commit hostile actions and oppose security and stability in Iraq,” said Navy Cmdr. Edgar Buclatin, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “Each time...

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers found two caches during combat operations in the Doura neighborhood of the Iraqi capital Jan. 18. Soldiers of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, attached to Task Force Dragon, found the first cache in an abandoned building during a late afternoon patrol. Explosive ordnance disposal personnel safely destroyed the two blasting caps, six rocket-propelled grenade motors, two 120mm artillery shells and 51 linked 7.62mm machine gun rounds on site. After receiving a tip about a weapons cache in a home, Co. D, 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt. Soldiers searched...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2008 – Coalition troops in Iraq captured seven suspected terrorists during operations today in Baghdad and Beiji, military officials said. In Baghdad, coalition forces captured a wanted individual allegedly involved in the facilitation of weapons, improvised-explosive-device materials, vehicles, and suicide bombers for use in al Qaeda in Iraq attacks. Reports indicate the suspect also is linked to foreign terrorist-facilitation networks, including several terrorists currently operating outside of Iraq. In Beiji, coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and four additional suspects. One of the wanted individuals reportedly is a leader of an al Qaeda-affiliated media and propaganda network....

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2008 – The suspected leader of an al Qaeda in Iraq-affiliated terror cell was detained Jan. 22 in Balad, Iraq, during a joint raid by Iraqi and American forces, military officials reported. The suspected terrorist and his cell are believed to be responsible for mortar and improvised-explosive-device attacks against coalition forces, as well as the kidnapping of innocent Iraqi civilians. The detainee also is believed to have provided safe houses, weapons and money for terrorist operations in the region, officials said. In other news from Iraq, Iraqi and U.S. forces teamed up to detain a suspected terrorist...

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Jan. 24, 2008 – Several insurgents were killed and nine suspected insurgents were detained yesterday as coalition forces conducted an operation to degrade Taliban command-and-control networks in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, military officials reported. Coalition forces searching several compounds in Ghazni district for a Taliban commander associated with suicide bombings were met with small-arms fire. They returned fire, using a combination of small-arms and aerial-delivered conventional munitions, killing several insurgents. The coalition forces found and detained nine individuals when they continued their search of the area. The detainees will be questioned on their involvement in facilitation operations...