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BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained one suspect today, during operations targeting al-Qaeda in central Iraq.
In continued efforts to disrupt terrorist activities in the Diyala River Valley, Coalition forces conducted two coordinated operations north of Muqdadiyah targeting associates of the al-Qaeda network in the region. Intelligence reports indicate the individuals are associated with the group that was involved in several fire fights with Coalition forces during operations on Dec. 12 and 13.
During one of the operations, the ground force called for occupants to come out of the target area, but they did not comply. Coalition forces then approached the target area and were engaged by enemy fire. The ground force pulled back to a safe position and called for supporting aircraft to engage. Coalition forces assessed that two terrorists were killed from the strike.
Nearby, Coalition forces confirmed the presence of the wanted individuals associated with the previous target, and supporting aircraft again engaged. Once the area was cleared, the ground force assessed two terrorists were killed, one of whom was armed with a suicide vest.
West of Tarmiyah, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a close associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for the network north of Baghdad. The network is responsible for the majority of the car-bombing and improvised explosive device attacks in the area. They are also involved in extortion, intimidation, weapons trafficking and the facilitation of foreign terrorists.
Reports indicate the wanted individual replaced the terrorist that was killed during a Coalition forces operation Dec. 11 (see MNF-I press release A071211a, “Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda operations; one terrorist killed, 19 detained,” dated Dec. 11, 2007). When the ground force arrived in the target area, the wanted individual identified himself and was subsequently detained.
“Al Qaeda continues to be a threat to the peace and stability of Iraq,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “Responding to this threat, Iraqi and Coalition forces will continue to drive al-Qaeda networks from their hiding places.”