Pat Dollard | Young Americans

1. BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained nine suspects Wednesday during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda and foreign terrorist networks in central and northern Iraq.

During an operation west of Abu Ghurayb, Coalition forces targeted an alleged associate of several senior terrorist leaders in Kirkuk. Reports also indicate the targeted individual has information about foreign terrorists in the area. As the ground force secured the target, several men, one of whom was armed, maneuvered toward Coalition forces. The suspected terrorists did not comply with the ground force’s instructions and warnings. The armed men continued to maneuver toward Coalition forces, and perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged with small arms fire, killing three terrorists. Coalition forces detained two suspects on site.

In Mosul, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during an operation to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations. The wanted individual is believed to be a leader associated with car-bombing attacks in Baghdad. The wanted individual’s wife identified him to Coalition forces, and he was subsequently detained.

In other operations along the Tigris River Valley, Coalition forces detained six suspects believed to be associated with senior terrorist leaders, foreign terrorists, weapons procurement and al-Qaeda in Iraq media activities.

“Foreign terrorists are responsible for more than 90 percent of suicide bombings in Iraq, and we are relentlessly targeting Al-Qaeda’s foreign terrorist networks,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesperson. “Increasingly, Iraqi citizens are helping us find these networks and Iraqi security forces are taking the lead in dismantling them.”

2. BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed three terrorists, and discovered a weapons cache and an alleged detention facility during a multi-day operation Nov. 3-5 targeting al-Qaeda and foreign terrorist networks south of Samarra.

Information gained from previous operations led Coalition forces to an area believed to be a crossing point for al-Qaeda in Iraq members and foreign terrorists traveling to the east side of the Tigris River Valley. Reports indicate the leader in the area is an al-Qaeda in Iraq weapons facilitator with ties to other terrorist senior leaders, and whose family is suspected of conducting attacks against Coalition and Iraqi security forces.

As Coalition forces entered the target area late Saturday, they observed armed men attempting to evade ground forces. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces called for supporting aircraft to engage, killing two terrorists and destroying one vehicle. As the ground force continued to clear the area, they discovered a vehicle loaded with AK-47’s and potential explosive materials, which they safely destroyed on site. Following the vehicle’s destruction, the ground force observed an individual return to the location to retrieve equipment and, perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged, killing the terrorist.

Also during the operation, the ground force discovered a bunker allegedly used as a terrorist detention facility, and a small cache of weapons to include an anti-aircraft weapon with a vehicle mounting system, ammunition and two improvised explosive device-armed pressure plated land mines, which were all destroyed to prevent further use by terrorists.

“Across Iraq, citizens are rejecting al-Qaeda’s barbaric detention facilities, torture houses and atrocities,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesperson. “We will continue to work with Iraqi citizens and their security forces to neutralize al-Qaeda and the extremist vision they have for Iraq.”

3. BAGHDAD – 6th Iraqi Army Division Soldiers, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured seven al-Qaeda in Iraq extremists during operations in Mansour Nov. 4.

Captured was the primary target for the operation, a suspected AQI leader who reportedly organizes and personally conducts kidnappings, murders, car-bombings, and improvised explosive devices attacks. He reportedly runs a criminal network thought to be behind terrorist attacks carried out in the Ahdimiyah, Al Kahdra, Al Ameriyah, Yarmouk, and Mansour districts of Baghdad.

According to intelligence reports, the suspect is believed to have ordered the murder of a family of three and the killing of eight construction workers. He is also thought to be behind the attempted murder of a Mansour City Council Chairman and an IED attack that killed three Iraqi checkpoint guards.

During the operation, Iraqi and U.S. Forces detained eight additional suspects for questioning.

No Iraqi or U.S. Special Forces were injured during this operation.

MNF-I