U.S. Forces Detain Suspected Terrorists in Central, Northern Iraq

American Forces Press Service

Oct. 24, 2007 - Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and detained 19 suspected terrorists during operations today in the central and northern parts of Iraq.

-- West of Tikrit, coalition forces captured a wanted individual who is believed to be an associate of several terrorist leaders operating throughout the Tigris River Valley. The suspect allegedly is responsible for the movement of weapons from outside of Iraq to safe houses in the area. As coalition forces arrived at the target area, the wanted individual surrendered to the ground force and was detained without incident.

-- In southern Baghdad, coalition forces captured another individual during an operation targeting an al Qaeda member allegedly involved in bombing attacks. Reports indicate the suspect is an associate of a terrorist believed to have transported messages from a former southern belt terrorist leader killed during a coalition forces operation Sept. 25. The captured individual also is believed to have knowledge of foreign terrorists and senior al Qaeda members operating in the Arab Jabour area and southern Baghdad. One other suspect was detained on site.

-- In another operation in the capital city, coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists while targeting an alleged al Qaeda cell leader involved in attacks on coalition forces in the Arab Jabour area.

-- West of Ramadi, coalition forces detained four suspects while targeting a member of a foreign terrorist facilitation network that channels extremists into Iraq. The targeted individual reportedly is a close associate of several senior al Qaeda members operating outside of Iraq, one of whom allegedly is responsible for facilitating finances across the border and transporting messages to senior terrorist leaders. The individual also allegedly has ties to other al Qaeda financiers in the region.

-- South of Tarmiyah, coalition forces detained nine suspected terrorists during two coordinated operations. Eight were detained while forces were targeting al Qaeda leaders operating in the city's terrorist network. Coalition forces detained another suspect while targeting an alleged associate of an al Qaeda leader responsible for the Tarmiyah sector of the northern belt. Intelligence reports indicate the network is involved with car bombings, improvised-explosive-device attacks and facilitating foreign terrorists.

-- In Mosul, coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists while targeting an individual believed to be a key logistical provider for all of al Qaeda. Intelligence reports also indicate the individual has allegedly provided transport for senior terrorists operating in the region.

"We continue to clear and hold areas where the terrorists think they can hide," said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "Al Qaeda in Iraq will find no safe haven from our operations to capture their leadership and dismantle their networks."

In operations earlier this week, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers found two weapons caches and detained four individuals during ongoing clearing operations in the Rashid district on Oct. 22. An Iraqi citizen's tip aided troops in finding a cache and arresting three military-age males for possession of two hand grenades, an AK-47 assault rifle and four magazines.

Also on Oct. 22, tips from local residents led to the detention of two insurgents in Adwaniya. U.S. and Iraqi troops detained the two during raids designed to disrupt insurgent activities in the area. Local residents reported that one of the detainees was using his business as an al Qaeda meeting point. Coalition forces searched the building and found IED-making materials.

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