Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and detained nine other suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks early Saturday in central Iraq.Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and three additional suspected terrorists during an operation northwest of Muqdadiyah. One of the wanted individuals is believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader operating in the northern Diyala area. The other wanted individual is his brother, and also a suspected associate of the terrorist network operating in the region. Intelligence gained from previous operations led Coalition forces to the target area, where they captured the brothers without incident. During the course of operations, the ground force also discovered an improvised explosive device which was safely destroyed on site.
In Bayji, Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists during an operation targeting an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. Reports indicate that the targeted individual is part of a logistics network responsible for supplying weapons and supplies to foreign terrorists. The individual is also believed to have many contacts within the southern belt terrorist network, which allegedly facilitates the movement of foreign terrorists and suicide bombers for attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces. “These captures are another step forward in disrupting the terrorist networks operating in Iraq,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “We will continue to hunt down al-Qaeda in Iraq’s members and leadership, so Iraqis can have a future of their own choosing.”