Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47463
Forces Capture Suspected Sattar Assassination Planner
By John Valceanu
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2007 – Coalition forces yesterday captured a man suspected of being behind the Sept. 13 assassination of Sheik Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, an influential Sunni leader who helped fight al Qaeda in Iraq’s Anbar Forces, officials in Baghdad announced during a briefing today.
“Investigative and intelligence reports indicate Fallah Khalifa Hiyas Fayyas al-Jumayli, also known as Abu Khamis, was involved the planning and execution of the plot to kill the sheik and was also plotting to kill other leaders of the Anbar Awakening Council as well,” said Navy Rear Adm. Mark I. Fox, Multi-National Force Iraq spokesman.
Intelligence indicates that “Abu Khamis was also involved in organized activity creating car bombs and suicide vest attacks in Al Anbar province,” Fox said.
The admiral called Sattar a “key ally in the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq” and offered his condolences to the sheik’s family. Sattar and his followers rejected the violence of al Qaeda and worked to bring peace and prosperity to their province. Their efforts helped create what became known as the “Anbar Awakening,” in which violence in the province was reduced dramatically as local leaders cooperated with coalition forces to root out terrorists.
Just 10 days before his assassination, Sattar and other Anbar leaders took part in a Labor Day meeting with President Bush on Al Asad Air Base. The sheik also participated in the Ramadi Reconstruction Conference with leaders of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and Multinational Force West earlier in the year.
“As the principal founder and chairman of the Al Anbar awakening council, Sheik Sattar was a brave Iraqi who fearlessly worked to bring security and stability to the province,” Fox said. “We stand in solidarity with all Iraqis in expressing our sorrow at this barbaric and senseless killing. We honor Sheik Sattar’s courage and sacrifice.”
Fox said Sattar was “martyred in the cause of peace in Iraq.”
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47465
Coalition Forces Capture Key Extremist Leaders in Iraq, Kill Three Insurgents
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces detained six suspects, including several key extremist militant leaders, killed three insurgents and seized a weapons cache in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.
Iraqi special operations forces, with U.S. special forces advisers, detained an extremist militant company commander and a cell member yesterday during an operation in Ad Diwaniyah.
During the operation, enemy fighters initiated an attack on the combined force with an improvised-explosive-device, small-arms and machine gun fire. The combined force returned fire, killing three enemy fighters and wounding several others.
The captured extremist commander led more than 20 enemy fighters responsible for launching improvised-explosive-device, explosively-formed-penetrator and indirect fire attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces in the area, military officials said.
Coalition forces suspect the group of attacking a coalition base in Ad Diwaniyah with indirect fire on July 5,. The group allegedly assaulted a local police station two days later, killing two Iraqi police officers and firing on coalition forces as they rushed to aid victims. Intelligence reports indicate that the group has launched more than 450 rocket and mortar attacks on the coalition base during the past four months, military officials said.
In a separate operation yesterday in the Bayaa area of Baghdad, Iraqi special operations forces detained an extremist militant battalion commander. The suspect is linked to extrajudicial killings, kidnappings and removing Sunni residents from the area.
During a Sept. 14 raid, Iraqi troops with U.S. special forces advisers detained a Shiite extremist cell member in Wassit Province. The suspect conducts improvised-explosive-device, explosively-formed-penetrator and direct fire attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces in the al Aziziyah area, military officials said.
Military officials allege that on Aug. 23, the suspect’s cell detonated an explosively-formed penetrator on a combined forces convoy, killing two coalition soldiers and wounding three others. He also was involved in an Aug. 2 improvised-explosive-device, or IED, attack on a convoy that killed two civilian contractors.
Further intelligence indicates the extremist is a member of a cell that conducts extrajudicial killings against innocent civilians. The suspect also is accused of criminal acts against the citizens of the town of al Aziziyah, including emplacing IEDs, and conducting assaults and kidnappings.
During the raid, Iraqi and U.S. forces confiscated two AK-47 assault rifles and six grenades. Troops detained two other suspects for further questioning.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)