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| Iraq |
| Key terror leader captured in raid in Karbala |
| 2006-06-16 |
| BAGHDAD, Iraq - A key terror leader linked to the deaths of at least six coalition soldiers was captured in Karbala, the US military said on Friday, a day after the local council issued strong protests over the arrests of three members. The military said Iraqi soldiers, assisted by coalition advisers, conducted an early morning ground assault raid on Thursday in the Shiite holy city, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, and captured “a high-ranking terrorist network commander without firing a shot.” The suspect was identified by the military as Shaikh Aqeel. “Aqeel commands a Karbala terrorist network and is wanted for assassinating Iraqi citizens and planning and ordering attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces,” the military said in a statement. The military also accused him of providing financial support to other militants, along with roadside bombs it said were linked to the deaths of at least six coalition soldiers last year and the deaths of a coalition soldier and an interpreter on June 8. Aqeel also was linked to a 2005 attack on the al-Mukhayim Iraqi police station and the killing of Iraqi intelligence officers in Karbala, the statement said. The security forces also captured another terrorist during the raid and seized a substantial weapons cache, the military said, adding that no Iraqi or coalition forces were killed or wounded during the operation. The 40-member local council in Karbala suspended its operations and demanded an apology Thursday after police said US forces with air cover raided the house of the council leader Aqil al-Zudeidi, a member of the Shiite Fadila Party, and arrested him at about 6. a.m. Two other council members Ahmed al-Hassani, a supporter of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and Gasid Karim, an independent, were arrested in the same area, police said. Hundreds of demonstrators also took to the streets to demand the men’s release. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 OS here's a little more to add.. American Forces Press Service Shia cleric in Karbala Captured: Iraqi Forces Capture Terrorist Leader; Coalition Forces Foil Kidnapping Iraqi forces captured a high-ranking terrorist network commander during an early morning ground assault raid in Karbala, Iraq, today and coalition forces in eastern Baghdad stopped an alleged kidnapping June 13, military officials reported. Iraqi army soldiers, assisted by coalition advisers, captured Sheik Aqeel in the Karbala raid. Aqeel commands a Karbala terrorist network and is wanted for assassinating Iraqi citizens and planning and ordering attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces, officials said. The terrorist network commander provides financial support to subordinate leaders and supplies them with improvised explosive devices. The IEDs supplied by Aqeel are linked to the deaths of at least six coalition soldiers in 2005 and the deaths of a coalition soldier and an interpreter on June 8, officials said. Aqeel is also linked to a 2005 attack on the Mukhayim Iraqi police station and the killing of Iraqi intelligence officers in Karbala. Iraqi forces captured one other terrorist during the raid and seized a substantial weapons cache. Coalition forces in eastern Baghdad conducting combined curfew enforcement stopped two vehicles June 13 and seven Iraqi citizens jumped out, claiming to have been kidnapped. Soldiers from Multinational Division Baghdad's Company E, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, were conducting curfew enforcement at about 11 p.m. when they spotted two vehicles carrying the suspected kidnappers and their victims. During a search of the suspected kidnappers, soldiers discovered three pistols. Following the search and questioning, the soldiers detained four suspected kidnappers and took the seven victims to a nearby forward operating base. The kidnapping victims had been seized June 10 near Namiyah where they work for an engineering firm. They were released after providing sworn statements. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-06-16 15:40 |
| #1 Big fish in terms of trying to direct a dirty war and keep clean hands. Brove to the intelligence work that got all this assembled. Plus its a clear warning shot to Moqtada Sadr. Start that stuff with the Mahdi Army again, and this time it will be Iraqi SHIA Troops taking them down. Notably less merciful than US forces. I still oncdier it to be one of the biggest errors onthe part of the intial Coalition that Sadr is walking around -they should have put a bullet in him, the murdering little thug. |
| Posted by: Oldspook 2006-06-16 12:50 |