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| Iraq |
| Al-Qaeda disrupted in Tigris River Valley: 7 terrorists killed, 12 suspects detained |
| 2007-08-25 |
| Coalition Forces killed seven terrorists and detained 12 suspected terrorists during operations Friday to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq networks in central and northern Iraq. Coalition Forces returned to an area east of Tarmiyah where they killed 13 terrorists and captured 12 suspects last week during an operation targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell in the area. Local Iraqis who had helped Coalition Forces target the cell last week continued to provide information about terrorist operations there. Upon the assault force’s arrival on the scene, two armed men engaged them with small arms fire. Coalition Forces returned fire in self defense, killing the two terrorists. As the assault force continued to secure the group of buildings, they encountered five separate armed men, each attempting to barricade himself in a room. In each case, when the armed men drew their weapons, Coalition Forces defended against the hostile threat and engaged them, killing all five. Inside one of the buildings, the ground forces found fighting positions carved out of the structure. Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists, and assess that nine individuals identified by name in intelligence reports had been killed or captured. “With the help of the Iraqi community, we basically crippled this cell,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We’ll continue working with local citizens to dismantle the rest of the networks that threaten the security of Iraq.” Three other operations in the Tigris River Valley rounded up eight suspected terrorists. In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained two suspects while targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who issues orders to attack Kurds, Iraqi Police and Coalition Forces, and is believed to be a key recruiter for al-Qaeda in Iraq. Near Taji, information from an operation Aug. 17 helped Coalition Forces target a weapons facilitator who is associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. The ground forces detained four suspected terrorists during the raid. North of there, an operation to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq’s influence in Bayji netted two suspected terrorists allegedly tied to the top terrorist leaders in the area. |
| Posted by:Fred |