Suspected Terrorist Leader, 7 Others Detained

MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
Release A070602a

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained eight suspected terrorists, including an alleged senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader, in operations Saturday targeting the terrorist network.

Coalition Forces raided a building in Hit while tracking an al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist leader. The ground force detained three suspected terrorists there, one of whom is allegedly the military emir of the area and works directly with other high-level al-Qaeda operatives in Anbar province.

West of Baghdad, Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists, including one individual who allegedly builds and plants improvised explosive devices for use in the Karkh neighborhood of Baghdad. Coalition Forces also found two vehicles known to transport weapons and personnel for al-Qaeda in Iraq operations, which they destroyed on-site.

A suspected member of a vehicle-borne IED cell in Adamiyah was detained during a Coalition Forces raid east of Baghdad. Intelligence reports indicate the individual has also been involved in attacks against Coalition Forces.

Coalition Forces surrounded a target northeast of Fallujah looking for a suspected member of the al-Qaeda in Iraq network involved in car theft and weapons transport. While the ground force was searching a building, an armed man emerged from a nearby building and engaged the force with small arms fire. Coalition Forces returned fire in self-defense, killing the armed man. No suspects were detained at the scene.

“Our incremental progress in capturing al Qaeda in Iraq operatives continues to deplete the command structure and manpower pool of the terror organization,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.