May 29, 2007

Al-Qaeda Regional Emir, 13 Others Detained

MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
Release A070529a

BAGHDAD, Iraq – In operations around Iraq Tuesday morning, Coalition Forces detained 14 suspected terrorists, including a suspected al-Qaeda regional emir.

Coalition Forces raided a building in Baghdad searching for an alleged terrorist leader. When they found the building empty, the ground force moved to a follow-on target. There, they detained four suspected terrorists, including the alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq emir in charge of the Hay al-Jamah area of the city.

In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained a suspected terrorist leader and his brother-in-law in two coordinated operations. Intelligence reports indicate the suspected terrorist leader was allegedly the emir of Ansar al-Sunna in Mosul until he fled to Syria in 2005 to avoid capture by Coalition Forces. He returned to Iraq in January.

Information gained from two successful operations May 28 led Coalition Forces to six buildings north of Fallujah, where they detained two suspected terrorists for their alleged ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leadership network.

North of Taji, Coalition Forces raided three buildings in search of an al-Qaeda senior leader. Six individuals were detained for their suspected association with the al-Qaeda network.

“We’re continuing our deliberate and methodical operations to hunt down and capture or kill terrorists trying to prevent a peaceful and stable Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

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