Coalition Forces Target Enemy in Tigris River Valley

American Forces Press Service

Nov. 26, 2007 - Coalition forces detained 10 suspects today during operations targeting al Qaeda networks along Iraq's Tigris River Valley. Coalition forces conducted several operations targeting associates of al Qaeda in Iraq leaders, including foreign terrorist facilitators and planners of car-bombing attacks. During the operations, coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and detained eight suspects.

During one of the operations, information gathered from local citizens indicated that terrorists were using a school as a meeting location and safe house. Coalition forces briefly entered the school, but did not do any damage and left the school as it was found, officials said.

In operations yesterday:

-- An Iraqi commando team accompanied by U.S. advisors conducted a raid west of Baghdad and captured an al Qaeda in Iraq operative. The detained individual is reported to be responsible for acts of murder and intimidation.

-- Soldiers with the 8th Iraqi Army Division and U.S. forces seized two suspects during a raid to disrupt the command structure of an extremist network operating in Ash Shamiyah.

-- During a mission to clear southwest Baqouba of al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists, Iraqi and U.S. troops discovered 18 roadside bombs, a homemade mortar system, rocket-propelled grenade rounds, remote detonation devices, homemade primers, 30 feet of detonation cord and military-grade explosive. All items were destroyed.

-- North of Samarra, coalition forces captured a wanted individual and detained 14 suspects.

-- In Baghdad, coalition forces captured a wanted individual and detained four other suspects.

-- West of Yusufiyah, coalition forces captured a wanted individual allegedly associated with al Qaeda in Iraq leaders and foreign terrorists.

-- South of Darband-i-Khan, coalition forces detained a suspect believed to be associated with a terrorist courier network between Iraq and neighboring countries.

-- In Mosul, coalition forces detained two suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq.

"Iraqi and coalition forces are hitting al Qaeda across Iraq, disrupting their terrorist networks," said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "The Iraqi people are working with us, helping us find al Qaeda, to ensure a more secure future for their nation."

In Nov. 24 operations:

-- Iraqi and U.S. troops detained a roadside-bomb maker and an al Qaeda in Iraq agent during separate raids in Ash Shamiyah and Rawah, respectively.

-- Coalition troops killed 10 terrorists and detained eight others during operations north of Samarra.

-- Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 10 others during operations in central and northern Iraq.

In Nov. 23 operations:

-- Coalition forces captured three suspected terrorists during operations in Rashidiyah, north of Baghdad.

-- Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors detained four suspected terrorists during raids in northeast Baghdad and Samarra.

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