Iraq Operations Net 36 Terrorists, Kill Nine

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 27, 2007 - Coalition troops detained 36 terrorists and killed nine others today during a series of raids in Baghdad and other areas in central and northern Iraq, officials reported. Individuals detained in the Baghdad raid are believed to be involved in the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq into Iran for terrorist training. Coalition forces also confiscated a number of documents, photographs and possible improvised explosive device components. Intelligence reports indicate one of the detainees is a "special groups" senior-level terrorist facilitator with possible Iranian connections.

"The special groups network constitutes a significant threat to security and stability in Sadr City and other areas around Baghdad," said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "We will continue to dismantle and degrade the special groups terrorist network, eliminating their ability to attack innocent Iraqis as well as Iraqi security forces and coalition forces."

Coalition forces killed eight terrorists and detained 16 others during additional raids in and around Baghdad aimed at key leaders in the al Qaeda in Iraq network operating in central and northern Iraq.

In other Iraq operations today:

-- Coalition troops killed a leader of an al Qaeda in Iraq cell in the Arab Jabour area and one of his associates during an operation north of Salman Pak.

-- Coalition troops captured an alleged terrorist senior leader today during a raid south of Kirkuk. The suspect is believed to have close ties al Qaeda in Iraq and is believed to facilitate the movement of foreign terrorists into the country. Six additional suspected terrorists were detained during the raid.

-- Coalition units operating near Baajah and Muqdadiyah detained five suspected terrorists for alleged involvement with senior leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq. Coalition troops also found munitions and machine guns, which were destroyed.

In yesterday's operations:

-- U.S. soldiers with Task Force Marne raided an enemy safe house in Suwayrah and captured two suspected insurgents. The raid, dubbed Falcon Fury II, is a component of Operation Marne Husky. Suwayrah is a known enemy safe haven about 25 miles southeast of Baghdad. The troopers' main goal was to disrupt enemy activity in Suwayrah and prevent assaults on civilians and coalition forces in the area, U.S. officials said.

-- Coalition forces killed 11 terrorists and detained six others during a series of operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq leaders and their networks in central and northern Iraq.

-- Iraqi troops and U.S. Special Forces soldiers detained a terror cell-network leader linked to the former regime of Saddam Hussein during an operation in Tikrit.

-- Iraqi commandos detained a suspected al Qaeda administrative leader and planner for attacks using car bombs in Baghdad.

-- In southern Baghdad yesterday, coalition helicopter crews killed four insurgents who were placing a roadside bomb. At least one other insurgent was wounded.

Earlier in the weekend, Iraqi forces, U.S. Marines and U.S. Special Forces soldiers detained eight suspected terrorists and killed three during a series of raids Aug. 25. Iraqi and coalition troops also destroyed an al Qaeda-manned fighting position and a safe house near Jurf as Sakhr on Aug. 25 as part of Operation Gecko. OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters engaged the location with one missile, rendering the position useless to the enemy, officials said. Five terrorists found hiding in a nearby building were killed by a 1,000-pound bomb.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)