Forces Capture 18 Suspected Terrorists in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

April 13, 2007 – Coalition forces captured 18 suspected al Qaeda terrorists this week, while Iraqi forces took the lead in operations throughout the country, detaining five suspects, military officials report.

-- During an operation in Karmah this morning, coalition forces captured six men with suspected involvement in recent car-bomb attacks operations against Iraqi and coalition forces.

-- Five suspected terrorists with links to recent car-bomb attacks against coalition forces in Mosul were captured today, officials said.

-- A raid east of Amiriyah resulted in the capture of one suspected terrorist with known involvement in transporting al Qaeda senior leaders.

-- Forces also captured two suspected foreign fighter facilitators in Baghdad.

Elsewhere in Iraq, insurgents attacked Iraqi civilians with mortars yesterday, injuring seven in an area south of Baghdad. Military officials said Iraqi police heard the explosions and immediately assisted injured citizens by evacuating them to a local hospital.

In other operations this week, Iraqi police forces conducted an early-morning mission April 11 in Anbar province, capturing two suspects believed to be involved in insurgent activities.

With coalition advisors present for support, U.S. officials report that Iraqi forces raided a residence in the village of Kubaysah and captured individuals allegedly responsible for planning and building improvised explosive devices containing chlorine.

Iraqi special operation forces conducted an air assault April 11 outside of Fallujah, capturing two suspects believed to be involved in insurgent activities. With coalition advisors present for support, the Iraqi forces conducted the air-assault raid northeast of the city, capturing their primary targets without incident. Five other suspicious individuals present during the operation were detained.

One of the targeted suspects detained is believed to be a member of a terrorist organization named the Islamic Army and part of an improvised-explosive-device cell operating out of Fallujah, military officials reported. The other suspect is believed to be with the cell and responsible for emplacing IEDs specifically targeting coalition vehicles.

"Coalition forces continue to target terrorists regardless of where they may hide or operate," Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said. "They will be identified, captured and prosecuted for their crimes."

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

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