Coalition Forces in Iraq Kill 25 Terrorists, Detain Dozens
American Forces Press Service ^
Posted on 03/23/2008 1:00:57 PM PDT by SandRat
WA****NGTON, 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
re****ted 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
leader****p. Intelligence re****ts 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 leader****p
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,
sup****ting Apache helicopters fired rounds into the building, and
close-air
sup****t 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 Ra****d 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.)
--
From 'Dreams of my Father', "In Indonesia, I had spent two years at a
Muslim school"... "I studied the Koran.."
Hussein Obama
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