Coalition Forces Detain 10 Suspected Terrorists in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

. 16, 2007 - Coalition forces captured four wanted individuals and detained six suspected terrorists today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in central Iraq.

-- Coalition forces captured a wanted individual and two suspects during an operation in southern Baghdad. Intelligence reports indicate the targeted individual was a key leader in the city's car-bombing network and was attempting to re-establish its operations after significant degradation by coalition forces. The ground force also detained two suspects on site.

-- South of Abu Ghraib, coalition forces captured a wanted individual reportedly tied to improvised-explosive-device attacks in the area. The targeted individual is believed to be an associate of a suspect captured yesterday who is allegedly responsible for distributing significant amounts of money to al Qaeda. During the course of operations, the suspect identified himself to the ground force, and another three suspected terrorists were detained.

-- In an operation southeast of Mahmudiyah, coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an associate of the southern belt terrorist leader Abu Usama al-Tunisi, killed during a coalition operation Sept. 25. Reports indicate the southern belt network is responsible for coordinating the movement of foreign terrorists and suicide bombers for attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces.

-- West of Baqouba, coalition forces captured a wanted associate of an al Qaeda senior leader in the Hadid region, a known terrorist stronghold. In addition to the targeted individual, the ground force detained one suspected terrorist.

-- South of Samarra, supporting aircraft destroyed one building to prevent future use by terrorists. Intelligence reports indicate the area is a known safe haven for foreign terrorists and al Qaeda members. The building was empty when it was destroyed.

"We use information gained from operations to target and capture al Qaeda in Iraq's leaders and operatives, reducing their ability to attack innocent Iraqis and destabilize the elected government," said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman.

In an operation yesterday, soldiers with 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, yesterday detained four suspected criminals, including one of the top five extremists allegedly responsible for a recent rocket attack on Camp Victory.

"We have reason to believe that, through two intelligence-driven operations over the last few days, we now have detained all of the leadership and the key operatives of the indirect-fire cell that attacked Victory Base last week," said Army Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, Multinational Division Baghdad's deputy commanding general.

In an earlier operation, paratroopers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, detained 12 suspected insurgents during an air mobility raid east of Adwaniya on Oct. 14. Six of the individuals are related to one of their top 10 most wanted. The troops conducted the mission as part of Operation Marne Torch II, a month-long mission designed to eliminate al Qaeda leaders in the Arab Jabour and Hawr Rajab areas.

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