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Falling icicles kill sixTue Feb 26, 10:01 AM ET MOSCOW (Reuters) - Six people have been killed in three days by icicles falling from buildings in a central Russian region, ITAR-TASS news agency reported Tuesday. Plummeting chunks of ice is an annual hazard for pedestrians in Russia during the spring when the sun finally melts thick layers of ice and snow which build up on roofs over months of freezing temperatures and darkness. Medical authorities in the region of Samara told ITAR-TASS that five people died in the city of Samara and another person died in the nearby town of...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2008 – Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 11 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq today and yesterday. During operations in Iraq today: -- Coalition forces conducted an operation east of Khan Bani Sad targeting an alleged improvised-explosive-device and suicide-bombing facilitator. During the operation, coalition forces were fired upon and returned fire, killing one terrorist. They also detained two suspected terrorists and destroyed a vehicle found in the area that contained explosive materials. -- Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists, including an alleged al Qaeda associate involved in media...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2008 – Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 20 suspected terrorists yesterday and today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq, military officials reported. West of Taji this morning, coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an individual believed to be an associate of the Baghdad improvised-explosive-device and car-bombing networks. Intelligence indicates he is a terrorist facilitator of materials, vehicles and suicide bombers for multiple terrorist cells throughout the city, officials said. During the operation, coalition forces engaged and killed one armed terrorist and detained two suspects. During an operation in Sharqat,...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2008 – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and captured 24 suspects today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks operating in central and northern Iraq, military officials said. In Sharqat, coalition forces targeted the alleged founder of an insurgent group tied to the leader of the al Qaeda in Iraq network in Beiji. As coalition forces called for the occupants of a target building to come out, one man ran out of the building and was directed to stop. He continued toward the ground force’s position despite continued commands to stop and was killed. Two suspected terrorists...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2008 – Coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 16 suspects yesterday and today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq, military officials said. During a series of operations south of Sharqat yesterday and early this morning, coalition forces targeted an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq leader for the Salahuddin province. The targeted suspect allegedly is responsible for the equipping, financing and planning of al Qaeda operations in northern Iraq and is associated with senior level al Qaeda members operating inside and outside the country. As coalition forces arrived at one of...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2008 – Coalition and Iraqi forces killed one suspected terrorist, detained 16 others and seized weapons caches in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said. Coalition forces captured a suspected criminal special groups finance facilitator and detained two other suspects yesterday during operations to disrupt criminal networks in the Baghdad area, military officials reported. The targeted financier was reportedly in charge of payroll for criminal special sroups in Wasit province and oversaw all special groups operations in Suwayrah, Numaniyah, Azisiyah and Kut. He allegedly financed criminals and their attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. Reports...

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...

MOSUL, Iraq – One of the most wanted men in Salah ad Din province was killed Jan. 16 by Sharqat Iraqi Police and Multi-National Division – North Soldiers after the units came under attack by small arms fire. The extremist leader was a planner, financier and IED facilitator and was a key target Iraqi Police and MND-N Soldiers have been aggressively pursuing, said Lt. Col. Thomas Dorame, commander for 1st Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. “His capture eliminates one of the worst of al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders operating in southern Ninewah and the Sharqat Police District. His death damages the...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2008 – As successful air strikes highlighted a new series of coordinated offensives in Iraq, coalition forces killed five suspected terrorists, nabbed 17 others and seized weapons caches over the past two days. Using precision strikes today, coalition aircraft hit more than 40 targets in addition to destroying reported al Qaeda safe havens in Arab Jabour. Coalition operators dropped 38 bombs within the first 10 minutes, a total tonnage of 40,000 pounds, military officials said. A joint operation between the Air Force and soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team required extensive planning to...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces killed one suspected terrorist and detained 24 others in Iraq over the past two days, military officials said. During operations to disrupt criminal networks this morning, coalition forces captured two suspected “special groups” leaders and detained three other suspects near Baghdad in the Mashru and Kadhimiya areas. Intelligence led ground forces to the target area south of Baghdad in Mashru, where they captured one criminal group leader and detained another suspected criminal. The targeted individual reportedly trained criminal splinter group members to attack coalition and Iraqi forces with explosively formed penetrators...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2007 – Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 14 terrorists and detained 13 suspected insurgents during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in Iraq today and yesterday. -- During an operation northwest of Muqdadiyah, coalition forces killed 14 terrorists as part of a sweep targeting associates of an al Qaeda in Iraq chieftain thought to be the leader of a group operating in the northeastern Diyala River Valley region. -- Coalition forces also captured a wanted individual in Baghdad believed to be involved in the al Qaeda in Iraq network in the city. The wanted individual allegedly is involved...

Somali pirates threaten to kill tanker crew By Laura Clout and agencies Last Updated: 12:32pm GMT 11/12/2007 A tense standoff has developed off the Somali coast between US warships and pirates who have hijacked a tanker packed with explosive chemicals. Somali pirates are able to operate with relative impunity off the volatile Horn of Africa. Under seige from the US navy, the pirates have now threatened to kill all 22 crew members of the Japanese Golden Nori unless a $1 million ransom is paid. The tanker, carrying up to 40,000 tons of inflammable benzene, was captured as it was sailing...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces captured 32 suspected terrorists and killed another in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said. During an operation in Mosul today, coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an al Qaeda in Iraq leader with connections to terrorist operations. The suspect, who allegedly received foreign funding, has waged a campaign of murder and intimidation, hijacking fuel trucks, manufacturing car bombs, and using improvised explosive devices against coalition forces, military officials said. An IED detonated near one of the ground force’s vehicles during the operation, officials said, but...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2007 – Coalition forces killed four terrorists and captured four suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq leaders conducted in central and northern Iraq today, officials reported. Coalition forces killed four terrorists during operations north of Hawija. As the ground forces approached the target area, they called for the building’s occupants to come out, but they did not comply. The individuals were armed and attempted to fire on coalition forces. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged, killing four terrorists, including two wanted individuals. Reports indicate that an al Qaeda leader in Kirkuk and a car-bombing...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, conducted an air assault early Nov. 11 near Al Bawi, resulting in 10 suspected extremists detained and one killed. During the air assault, Company A Soldiers cleared 17 buildings of weapons and military paraphernalia. All detainees were brought in for questioning. “In the past, the Al Bawi area has been a stronghold for al-Qaeda,” said Capt. Joshua Powers, from Atlanta, assistant operations officer, 1-15th Inf. Regt. “We used an air insertion to disrupt an area they thought was a safe haven. This operation sends a...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2007 – Coalition forces killed one insurgent and detained 14 others today during a series of operations across central and northern Iraq, military officials said. -- Coalition forces killed one al Qaeda-linked insurgent during an operation in Mosul. He was linked to the planning of attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces, including several suicide-car-bombing attacks. Another individual was detained for questioning. A deceased Iraqi woman and an injured child were found inside a nearby building. The child later died after being taken to a medical facility for treatment. -- Southeast of Baghdad, coalition forces captured four suspects...

Monkeys kill Delhi deputy mayor Delhi has long struggled to cope with the marauding monkeys The deputy mayor of the Indian capital Delhi died on Sunday after being attacked by a horde of wild monkeys. SS Bajwa suffered serious head injuries when he fell from the first-floor terrace of his home on Saturday morning trying to fight off the monkeys. The city has long struggled to counter its plague of monkeys, which invade government complexes and temples, snatch food and scare passers-by. The High Court demanded the city find an answer to the problem last year. Solution elusiveOne approach has...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2007 – Coalition forces working in concert with Iraqi security forces killed four insurgents and nabbed roughly 16 others during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said. In Iraq yesterday: -- Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and three others during an operation northwest of Muqdadiyah. Military officials believe one suspect is a senior al Qaeda in Iraq leader operating in the northern Diyala area. Troops destroyed an improvised explosive device on site. -- Troops detained six suspected terrorists during an operation in Beiji targeting an associate of al Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders, military officials said....

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2007 – A top al Qaeda leader who coordinated efforts of foreign terrorists in Iraq was killed this week, a senior official in the region announced today. (Video) A photo released by Multinational Corps Iraq officials of foreign al Qaeda leader Abu Usama al-Tunisi, who was killed Sept. 25 in an air strike on a building south of Baghdad. Courtesy photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Abu Usama al-Tunisi, a foreigner who brought al Qaeda terrorists into Iraq, was killed Sept. 25 in an air strike on a building south of Baghdad where he was...

Baghdad, 25 Sept. (AKI) - A gang of women who are part of the Mahdi army militia, loyal to radical Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, have killed a group of Sunni Muslim women in the al-Washshash district of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. This is according to a statement released on Tuesday by the Congress of the People of Iraq, the party led by Adnan al-Dulaimi, who is also the leader of the Iraqi Accord Front, a key Sunni political bloc. "The vast campaign of forced migration by the militias of the Mahdi Army against the Sunnis in that district of...