Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=32464
Coalition Forces Kill Terrorists; IED Blast Wounds Civilians
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2007 – Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained 11 suspected terrorists during raids over the past several days targeting al Qaeda networks in Iraq, military officials reported.
Two armed terrorists began firing on coalition forces this morning east of Balad, officials said. Precision fire from a coalition aircraft killed both terrorists. Forces also detained eight suspected terrorists during the raid.
Elsewhere in Iraq today, an insurgent vehicle bomb struck a bus full of workers at a bus factory.
Iraqi police and soldiers of the 8th Iraqi Army Division reacted quickly to the attack, immediately securing the area and evacuating the casualties to the hospital, officials said. Iraqi officials report that five workers were killed and 22 were wounded.
Soldiers detained three suspected terrorists with alleged ties to al Qaeda suicide-bombing operations in Mosul during a raid yesterday evening.
In another incident, 10th Mountain Division soldiers followed a tip from an Iraqi civilian that led to the arrest of a suspected roadside bomber yesterday.
While searching the house believed to be the insurgent’s hideout, soldiers found eight local nationals. One was arrested, and the others are being held for further questioning, officials said.
Also, coalition forces engaged and killed terrorists who were planting roadside bombs in Mosul on March 12.
Soldiers saw two men digging a hole, placing munitions and laying wire next to a main road, officials reported. Coalition helicopters immediately responded, engaging the terrorists with rocket fire. Both suspects were killed before they could detonate the bomb.
It was the second incident in four days in which terrorists were caught or killed in the act of placing roadside bombs, officials said.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=32469
Coalition Troops Support Afghan Forces in Arrests, Operations
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2007 – Coalition and Afghan forces arrested four people this morning during an operation targeting a known terrorist safe house, military officials reported.
The combined force arrested four military-age men with suspected ties to extremist groups believed to be involved in facilitating the movement of anti-government fighters. Official said some were discovered with large amounts of ammunition and currency.
Afghan forces, escorted by the local imam, questioned some men who had recently arrived from Pakistan and were staying in the local mosque. Coalition forces remained outside the mosque during the operation.
No shots were fired during the operation, military officials said, and no damage or injuries were reported by civilians or by the combined force.
In other news from Afghanistan, Afghan forces, supported by coalition troops, recovered high-powered sniper rifles and killed at least two terrorists during an operation March 12. The operation targeted a known Taliban weapons facilitator, officials said.
The terrorist suspects fired at the combined force from within the compound, where the sniper rifles were found.
The buildings were destroyed when the terrorists continued engaging the Afghan and coalition forces.
Credible information led the combined force to the compound in connection with the weapons trafficker, who has been linked to the movement of anti-aircraft weapons in southern Afghanistan, officials said.
Officials added that the area has seen numerous direct and indirect fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in recent weeks.
Two Afghan soldiers and a coalition soldier were injured during the assault. The three suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. No civilian casualties were reported.
Officials also announced that Combined Joint Task Force 76 has been officially redesignated as Combined Joint Task Force 82. This redesignation reflects changes in command relationships resulting from the transfer of Afghanistan operations to NATO’s International Security and Assistance Force and the inactivation of Combined Forces Command Afghanistan.
(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)