Operations in Iraq Kill One Terrorist, Nab Eight

American Forces Press Service

Sept. 21, 2007 - Coalition forces killed one alleged al Qaeda operative and detained eight other suspected terrorists during a series of operations in central Iraq today. Coalition forces captured a suspected al Qaeda leader during a raid in Baghdad's Arab Jabour section. This individual is believed to have furnished ordnance for a local car-bombing network. The detainee also is accused of facilitating the movement and training of foreign terrorists in the area.

During the raid, coalition forces killed an armed terrorist who approached them in a menacing manner. Coalition forces called in close-air support to fire on an enemy force that fired on them. Coalition ground forces were unable to determine if any enemy fighters were killed or wounded by the aircraft fire, U.S. officials said.

Coalition forces detained three other suspected terrorists on the scene.

In another operation in southern Baghdad today, coalition forces captured a suspected terrorist linked to a senior al Qaeda in Iraq leader.

Elsewhere, coalition forces northeast of Ramadi detained one suspected terrorist tied to gun running and moving foreign fighters. Coalition forces also detained two suspected terrorists in operations southeast of Balad.

"Al Qaeda in Iraq is operating in a degraded state," said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "Every operation gives us better information, enabling us to target and capture more al Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders."

During other recent Iraq operations, Iraqi security forces with U.S. Special Forces troops serving as advisors destroyed a major explosives cache near Sinjar in Ninewah province Sept. 19. The raid yielded 20,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate and ammonium phosphate concealed under a tarpaulin in a desert ravine. The seized chemicals are used to build roadside bombs favored by al Qaeda. The Iraqi-U.S. forces also found three dump trucks loaded with 15,000 cartons of cigarettes. The explosive-making materials and cigarettes were destroyed.

Also on Sept. 19, Iraqi forces killed 15 suspected terrorists, wounded seven and captured 24 during a series of other operations in Nineveh province. Four Iraqi soldiers were wounded.

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