Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49347
Coalition Forces in Iraq Kill 25 Terrorists, Detain Dozens
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq killed 12 terrorists today during an operation east of Baqouba targeting members of a suicide bombing network, military officials said.
The ground force was attacked with small-arms fire as it approached the targeted building. Responding to the hostile threat, coalition forces engaged five armed men, killing them, officials said.
The ground forces ordered the occupants to come out of the building. Some complied with the order, but others remained inside, according to officials. Coalition forces entered the building and were fired upon by several armed men. Seven more terrorists were killed in the engagement, and coalition forces detained five suspects on the scene.
Assault weapons, ammunition, grenades and military-style assault vests discovered on site were safely destroyed. Military officials said six of the dead terrorists had shaved their
bodies, which is consistent with final preparation for suicide
operations.
Elsewhere, coalition forces continued to target the terrorist bombing network in southwest Baghdad this morning, capturing a suspected bombing facilitator who officials said allegedly specializes in the distribution of homemade explosives. After he identified himself as the targeted suspect, the suspect led coalition forces to four other wanted individuals, who also were
detained.
In Mosul today, coalition forces conducted a precision operation in which they captured an alleged terrorist leader suspected of carrying out attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. In a nearby operation, ground forces detained three suspected terrorists while targeting associates of al Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders, officials said.
Meanwhile, coalition forces captured an alleged associate of al Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and three other suspected terrorists this morning in Tikrit. On two occasions during the operation, officials said, vehicles sped toward the security perimeter. After using visual signals, coalition forces fired a warning shot. In one incident, the vehicle turned around and left; the other vehicle stopped, and the driver ran away. There were no injuries reported in either incident.
Elsewhere today, two coordinated operations in the Tigris River Valley targeted al Qaeda in Iraq’s propaganda network.
Northwest of Tikrit, coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists, and west of Samarra, six additional suspects
were detained, military officials said.
“Though Iraqi and coalition forces have captured and killed a
substantial number of terrorists in operations like these, al-Qaeda in Iraq is still lethal, and a tough fight remains ahead,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We are committed to this fight and to improving public safety and security for all Iraqis.”
In yesterday’s operations:
–- Near the Hamrin Mountains, coalition forces conducted an operation targeting weapons facilitators and associates of al Qaeda in Iraq leadership. Intelligence reports led the assault force to the targeted suspects’ location, where five individuals failed to comply with coalition forces’ instructions or heed warnings. Perceiving hostile intent, coalition forces engaged the armed men with small-arms fire, killing them. Secondary explosions from a vehicle following the initial engagement indicated explosives or weapons were inside.
–- West of Samarra, coalition forces killed an armed terrorist when he threw a grenade at them from a tactical position. On the scene, coalition forces found terrorist propaganda materials.
–- In Baghdad, ground forces captured a wanted individual believed to be associated with al Qaeda in Iraq’s media network. During a separate operation in eastern Baghdad, Iraqi National Police officers seized a munitions cache after receiving a tip from a citizen, military officials said.
–- North of Taji, coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists including an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq operative suspected of organizing bombing attacks.
–- During two operations in Mosul, coalition forces captured an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist leader who is believed to have recently moved up in the organization after coalition operations decimated terrorist leadership in the area, officials said. Eight additional suspects were detained,
–- In Biaj, coalition forces detained one suspected terrorist while targeting foreign terrorist facilitators.
In March 21 operations:
–- Near Karwi, coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an al Qaeda in Iraq explosives network. Eight suspected terrorists were detained, including one man who tried to hide his weapon on a child, officials said. On the scene, coalition forces discovered a building with more than 600 pounds of materials used to make explosives, and three vehicles and a boat that tested positive for explosives residue.
–- In Baqouba, coalition forces killed a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq member during an operation on a building where known operatives were believed to be hiding, officials said. The targeted individual was known to be an expert in booby-trapping houses with explosives, Army Lt. Col. Patrick Mackin of the 2nd Infantry Division’s 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team said. After the occupants of the building refused to exit after repeated tactical call-outs, supporting Apache helicopters fired rounds into the building, and close-air support by fixed-wing aircraft dropped three bombs on the building. “The danger that any assault on the building by coalition forces would be met with either a house-borne improvised explosive device or suicide vest explosion was probable and led to the ultimate decision to engage the building with precision munitions,” Mackin said.
In March 20 operations:
–- Six terrorists were killed in West Rashid after Iraq attack aviation assets responded to an indirect-fire attack on coalition forces.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49353
Coalition Troops in Iraq Kill Two Terrorists, Detain Eight Suspects
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq today killed two terrorists and detained eight suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq operatives in the central and northern parts of the country, military officials said.
Coalition forces conducted two related operations in the Tigris River Valley. The ground force captured a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq member during an operation west of Samarra and detained another suspected terrorist during an operation in Tikrit. An armed man attempted to attack the coalition troops as they entered the target building in Tikrik. The coalition forces killed the armed terrorist.
During two operations on the west side of Baghdad, coalition forces captured an alleged associate of al Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and five other suspected terrorists. Another wanted individual engaged the ground force with small-arms fire during the second operation. Coalition forces returned fire and killed the armed terrorist.
In other recent operations:
— Coalition forces killed an armed insurgent during operations yesterday targeting al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists in the Hamrin Mountains. The suspected terrorist refused to surrender despite warnings from coalition troops, who then engaged the armed man, killing him.
— Iraqi security forces advised by U.S. Special Forces troops detained six suspected militants during separate anti-insurgent operations March 22. In Baghdad, Iraqi special operations forces detained one suspected militant believed to be the leader of an improvised-explosive-device and explosively formed penetrator cell. One other suspect is being held for questioning. In the northern Hamrin Lake region, northwest of Jalula, Iraqi security forces detained a suspect linked to criminal activity in the region. Bomb-making material was found at the site. In Kut, an Iraqi special weapons and tactics unit detained three suspects linked to local criminal activities.
— U.S. soldiers detained a suspected terrorist March 21 in Baghdad, using information supplied from a weapons cache discovery that was made in March 2007. At that time, U.S. soldiers with the 1st Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team seized a munitions cache in Baghdad’s West Rashid district. In January, more evidence turned up that linked the suspect to the weapons cache. “His capture shows two points,” said Army Col. Allen Batschelet, chief of staff for Multinational Division Baghdad. “Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers are here to protect the Iraqi people, and we will never cease in our efforts to bring terrorists and criminals to justice.” Evidence that links criminals and terrorists to previous acts of terrorism and violence generally comes to light two to three times a week, Batschelet said.
— Iraqi National Police officers seized a munitions cache after receiving a citizen tip in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad. Police from 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi National Police Division, investigated the tip and uncovered seven 107 mm artillery rounds and 80 122 mm artillery rounds. U.S. soldiers transported the contents of the cache for disposal.
— A suspected al Qaeda in Iraq leader in Kirkuk and three other suspects were detained during a March 20 raid conducted by coalition forces in Kirkuk province. Iraqi citizens provided the information leading to the capture of the suspected al Qaeda leader and other suspects. The tips allowed soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team to conduct a raid to detain the suspects with minimal impact on Iraqi citizens. The detained suspect and his followers have conducted numerous acts of intimidation against the local populace since 2003. The suspect is believed to be the leader for roadside-bomb operations in Kirkuk province and is linked to the deaths of many innocent Iraqis. “The suspect has brought much fear and death to the people of Kirkuk and to his own people in Hawijah. No longer will it be possible for him to harm innocent civilians,” Army Col. David Paschal, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, said. “We will continue to hunt down the remainder of the terrorists and bring them to justice.”
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)