BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces captured two alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq emirs, killed four terrorists and detained 20 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq media cells and senior leaders Wednesday and Thursday.Wednesday night, Coalition Forces captured the alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq sniper emir of Mosul. As the assault force entered the two targeted buildings, a man approached the perimeter security element. Even after the ground forces used appropriate escalation of force measures, the man continued to advance on the security element. Coalition Forces, responding appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged the man, killing him.
Inside the targeted buildings, Coalition Forces detained the alleged emir, who was believed to be involved in a plot against the mayor of Mosul on March 9 and has allegedly claimed responsibility for at least one Coalition Forces death in the last month. The suspected terrorist allegedly supervises 10-15 operatives and has conducted kidnapping operations to bring in money for his own use. Ground forces on the scene detained one additional suspect and discovered a small cache containing body armor, weapons, a rifle sight manual and extremist propaganda.
In western Baghdad Thursday morning, Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq media emir tied to propaganda cells throughout Baghdad. During the raid, the ground forces found a large amount of U.S. currency and improvised explosive device-making materials. Two more individuals were detained for their ties to the suspected emir.
Coalition Forces targeted a media cell and its leader, also suspected of facilitating the movement of foreign terrorists, in a raid near Samarra Thursday morning. As Coalition Forces approached the target building, surveillance showed a man come out of the building and move to a tactical fighting position against the assault force. Responding appropriately to the hostile threat, Coalition Forces called in close air support. The man was killed by aircraft strafing, and was determined to be a foreigner. The ground forces found weapons on site and detained seven suspected terrorists during the operation for their alleged ties to the foreign terrorist network and media cell.
North of Karmah Thursday, Coalition Forces continued to target senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in Anbar province. As the assault force approached the targeted buildings, two terrorists armed with AK-47s drew their weapons on the ground forces, using a woman as a human shield.
Coalition Forces closed in on the armed men when one terrorist attempted to assault an element of the ground forces. Coalition Forces moved the woman out of the way and engaged the two armed men, killing them. Four suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.
A raid in Tarmiyah Thursday targeted a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist who has close ties to the al-Qaeda emir of Baghdad. The ground forces detained four suspected terrorists during the operation.
"The leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq should know we are continually targeting them and will not rest until we have captured or killed them," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. "Every removal of a leader of al-Qaeda, at any level, weakens the terrorist organization and strengthens Coalition and Iraqi Security Force operations against it."