Making Iraq Safer For Everyone

Coalition Forces wounded one suspected terrorist and detained 19 suspects Friday during operations to disrupt foreign terrorist networks in central Iraq.

Southeast of Fallujah, Coalition forces targeted an associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq network responsible for insurgent activities in the region, to include car-bombing and improvised explosive device attacks. As Coalition forces arrived at the target building, they were engaged by two armed men. Responding in self-defense, the ground force engaged and wounded a suspected terrorist, who received medical care on site and was taken to a military medical facility for additional care. The second armed man surrendered to Coalition forces and was subsequently detained, in addition to one other suspect. During the operation, one civilian received minor injuries and was treated on site.

Information gained from previous operations led Coalition forces south of Samarra, where they conducted three coordinated operations targeting associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader involved in anti-Coalition force attacks and foreign terrorist facilitation. During two of the operations, Coalition forces requested supporting aircraft, which safely destroyed two buildings reported to be used by foreign terrorist facilitators. The ground force saw secondary explosions from one of the buildings, indicating explosives were inside. The buildings were destroyed to prevent further use by terrorists.

Also in Samarra, as Coalition forces secured a target area, they found a small weapons cache, including several machine guns, suicide vests and multiple assault vests with ammunition. The ground force detained seven suspects. To prevent further use by terrorists, Coalition forces destroyed two buildings and two vehicles known to be associated with foreign terrorists and anti-Coalition forces.

Intelligence reports led Coalition forces east of Samarra, where they targeted locations believed to be safe havens for foreign terrorists. Upon entering the target area, Coalition forces called for several buildings’ occupants to come out and the occupants complied without incident. The ground force detained seven suspects on site.

During operations in Baghdad, Coalition forces targeted a suspected terrorist believed to be involved with car-bombs and a facilitator and trainer of suicide bombers. As Coalition forces secured the target area, they detained three suspects without incident.

“Foreign terrorists are trying to derail progress in Iraq,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “The people of Iraq are helping Iraqi and Coalition forces hunt down these terrorists, making Iraq safer for everyone.”