Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists and detained 22 suspected terrorists during operations Sunday targeting al-Qaeda members in central Iraq and the Tigris River valley.Coalition Forces targeted a foreign terrorist facilitator and al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in the Yusifiyah area. As the assault force approached the location, a group of armed terrorists engaged them with small arms fire.
Coalition Forces, reacting appropriately to the hostile threat from an organized force, employed close air support. The air strike killed five terrorists, while several more moved to a nearby building. The assault force followed and entered the second building, where they detained seven armed individuals and uncovered fortified fighting positions and a large cache of weapons. One boy was injured during the operation. He was treated on site and accompanied by his father to a military medical facility. “Terrorists continue to endanger innocent Iraqis and show their disregard for human life each time they surround themselves with civilians during their criminal operations,” said Maj. Marc Young, an MNF-I spokesperson.
South of Tarmiyah, Coalition Forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader and used aircraft to patrol the area. As the operation began, armed terrorists engaged the aircraft with small arms fire. The aircraft, returning fire in self-defense, engaged the terrorists on the ground, killing three and wounding one suspect. The assault force on the ground detained three additional suspected terrorists.
South of Baghdad, Coalition Forces used air assets to contain a suspected enemy force while targeting key players in the Baghdad vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network. As Coalition Forces raided the target building, several suspected terrorists attempted to evade the assault force. With the help of close air support, the ground force detained seven suspected terrorists.
Coalition Forces raided a building in Samarra looking for a suspected foreign terrorist facilitator and financier tied to an individual detained during an operation July 14. The ground forces detained two suspects on scene and discovered weapons and a mortar round in the building. Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists during an operation south of Tikrit targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq military emir.