Forces Kill Two Terrorists, Capture 19 in Iraq Today

American Forces Press Service

July 13, 2007 – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 19 suspects during combat operations in central and western Iraq today. Forces targeted al Qaeda in Iraq leaders during raids on several buildings in Tarmiyah. During the raids, coalition forces detained six suspects, including an alleged weapons facilitator in Anbar province with close ties to al-Qaeda senior leaders.

A separate raid in Tarmiyah netted two more suspects tied to the religious emir of al Qaeda in Iraq.

West of Taji, forces captured eight suspects, including one allegedly involved in coordinating suicide operations and importing weapons.

Forces raided two buildings in southwestern Baghdad and detained three more suspects.

In other Iraq operations today, coalition forces captured a high-ranking "special groups" cell leader during a pre-dawn raid in Baghdad. He is suspected of coordinating logistical support from Iran and is believed to have directed attacks against coalition forces.

In other Iraq operations this week:

--Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers, with Iraqi security force counterparts, killed nine insurgents and detained 13 more in a fire fight yesterday in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad.

--Multinational Division Baghdad attack helicopter crews destroyed a homemade explosive factory and cache yesterday northwest of Baghdad.

--Elements of the 4th Iraqi Army Brigade detained the leader of a terrorist sniper cell in Bayji yesterday. He is suspected of leading attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. Two others were detained during the operation.

--Multinational Division Baghdad troops detained 31 suspected insurgents at a suspected al Qaeda meeting in the Rashid district July 11.

--Iraqi army soldiers, with their coalition counterparts, found an improvised explosive device factory during a raid in Mosul's al Sina'a neighborhood July 11. Forces found materials used to make improvised explosive devices including an acetylene tank, fertilizer, sugar and an industrial-grade sifter. Coalition forces detained 18 suspects.

--Coalition forces continue the hunt for insurgents responsible for firing 11 indirect fire rounds into Baghdad civilian neighborhoods July 11. Eleven 120 mm mortar rounds impacted in the Amil and Baladiat areas of eastern Baghdad. In the past week, insurgent-delivered indirect fire attacks targeted areas in the New Baghdad and Rashid security districts.

--Multinational Division Baghdad troops detained more than 100 suspects and seized more than 200 weapons caches during Operation Dragon Hammer in the Rashid district of the Iraqi capital July 1 to 11. The operation, launched by the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team "Dragons," 1st Infantry Division, targeted suspected terrorists by interdicting their supply chains.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq, Multinational Corps Iraq, and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Arabian Peninsula news releases.)