Six Terrorists Killed, 25 Detained

While conducting raids in the Tigris River Valley and Kirkuk, which targeted senior alQaeda in Iraq members, Coalition Forces killed 6 terrorists and detained 25, disrupting the al-Qaeda network:

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 25 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq’s operational networks in the Tigris River Valley and Kirkuk Thursday.

Coalition forces conducted two raids in and around Tarmiyah targeting senior members of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s network in the northern belts around Baghdad. During one raid, three armed men drew their weapons when the ground forces approached them. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces engaged the three armed men, killing them. As the ground forces continued to secure the area, they observed two men, one who was carrying a rifle, maneuvering into position against them. Coalition forces responded to the hostile threat, engaging and killing both.

During the second raid, a man drew his pistol on Coalition forces, who responded by engaging and killing the armed terrorist. Between the two raids, the ground forces detained seven suspected terrorists.

Farther north, Coalition forces used intelligence gained during operations Aug. 30 to capture a suspected close associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. The ground forces detained six additional suspected terrorists during the operations in Samarra and Tikrit.

Coalition forces captured a suspected member of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell near Baqubah believed to be responsible for bombing and ambush attacks on Coalition forces and Iraqi civilians.

Intelligence reports indicate the cell member helped emplace snipers and illegal checkpoints used to kidnap civilians and hold them for ransom. Nine more individuals were detained for their alleged ties to the terrorist cell.

Iraqi and Coalition forces in Kirkuk detained one suspected terrorist during an operation targeting a car-bombing cell there.

“We want to cripple the al-Qaeda in Iraq network, so it is unable to plan and execute vicious attacks against the Iraqi people,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesman. “Each operation gives us better information with which to target and attack them.”

Operations like these with Iraqi and US forces working at times in tandem and at other times alone, are what's keeping the violence levels down, and providing valuable data that the surge is working but also intelligence on the next target.

Insurgent groups operating in Iraq are finding their safe areas getting smaller and smaller and life in Iraq is returning to normal on a daily basis all over the country. As local governments return to power and begin solving thier own issues the political situation all over the country will improve.