FIVE INSURGENTS KILLED, BUILDING DESTROYED SOUTH OF BALAD BAGHDAD – Coalition Forces killed an insurgent Monday morning as they conducted movement to a suspected terrorist location south of Balad and later destroyed a building associated with terrorist activities, killing four more.
As ground forces approached the objective, an insurgent along their route engaged them with rifle fire. A coalition element then engaged and killed the insurgent as the ground forces continued to the objective.
Credible intelligence indicated the presence of several suspected terrorists on the objective prior to the raid. When Coalition Forces arrived at the objective, they announced Coalition presence and called for all occupants to exit peacefully. A woman and five children exited the house without incident.
Due to intelligence that several men were present as well, Coalition Forces again requested all occupants to exit peacefully, sending the woman back inside the building to encourage the men to exit. The woman again exited the building without the men. In order to ensure the safety of the force as well as surrounding residents, Coalition aircraft delivered precision munitions onto the building, resulting in its destruction and the death of the four occupants who refused to exit.