Coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists during operations Wednesday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and their networks in the northern part of the country. Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals in Mosul believed to be finalizing plans for an attack on the Mosul airfield during Ramadan. The two are also suspected of conducting attacks against Coalition forces and planning the attack on the Mosul airfield during Ramadan in 2006.Near the Syrian border, Coalition forces captured a mortar expert wanted for his suspected involvement in August attacks on Kurdish government buildings in Sinjar. The ground forces detained six additional suspected terrorists during the raid and discovered a cache of weapons, including machine guns and vehicle mounts. After clearing civilians from the area, Coalition forces called in an air strike to destroy the cache.
Iraqi and Coalition forces in Kirkuk captured a suspected terrorist wanted for his ties to senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders. The ground forces detained five additional suspects during the raid. “Al-Qaeda in Iraq has tried to move its operations and avoid the pressure we’re putting on them, but there’s no safe haven for terrorists in Iraq,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “We will continue to attack their network, no matter where their operatives hide.”