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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16102&Itemid=128

Press Release A071229b
December 29, 2007

Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations; three killed, 34 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 34 suspects Saturday during operations targeting al-Qaeda in central and northern Iraq.

During an operation north of Tikrit, Coalition forces targeted an associate of the al-Qaeda network operating in the Kirkuk province. The targeted individual is assessed to be involved in the facilitation of finances and materials for terrorist operations. When Coalition forces arrived in the target area, they called for the occupants to come out of the building. The ground force was then engaged by heavy enemy fire, and supporting aircraft was called to suppress the threat. Once the enemy fire ceased, the ground force assessed three terrorists were killed during the engagement. As the ground force cleared the area, they found a suicide belt, suicide vest and numerous weapons on site. All of the items were safely destroyed, along with a target building, to prevent further use by terrorists.

North of Tikrit, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a member of the al-Qaeda network operating in the area. The wanted individual is also allegedly associated with the terrorist network in Samarra, including foreign terrorist facilitation operations throughout the Tigris River Valley. Reports indicate the individual also has ties to individuals targeted during an operation Nov. 12, when Coalition forces killed Abu Tiba, the leader of the terrorist network in Samarra. In addition to the wanted individual, Coalition forces detained five suspected terrorists during the operation. The ground force detained an additional suspect during an operation south of the city targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader believed to be involved in suicide attacks against Coalition forces.

During an operation west of Tarmiyah, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a close associate of the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader of the network operating north of Baghdad. The network is responsible for the majority of car-bombing and improvised explosive device attacks in the area, as well as being involved in extortion, intimidation, weapons trafficking and the facilitation of foreign terrorists. In addition to the wanted individual, the ground force detained 21 suspected terrorists during the series of operations. Coalition forces also destroyed one building in the target area that was assessed to be used as a safe house for terrorist operations.

Coalition forces also detained five suspected terrorists during an operation in Mosul while targeting an associate of the al-Qaeda in Iraq network operating in the city. In the past few weeks, Coalition forces have detained three wanted individuals and more than 26 suspected terrorists associated with the network in Mosul, to include a suspect detained Dec. 13 believed to be a key associate of the al-Qaeda leader for northern Iraq.

“Terrorists have no safe haven in Iraq,” said Cmdr. Ed Buclatin, MNF-I spokesman. “We will continue our operations to hunt down al-Qaeda in Iraq’s leaders and operatives and to foil their attempts to destabilize the country.”

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