Coalition, Iraqi Troops Kill 14, Detain 13 Insurgents

American Forces Press Service

Dec. 12, 2007 - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 14 terrorists and detained 13 suspected insurgents during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in Iraq today and yesterday.

-- During an operation northwest of Muqdadiyah, coalition forces killed 14 terrorists as part of a sweep targeting associates of an al Qaeda in Iraq chieftain thought to be the leader of a group operating in the northeastern Diyala River Valley region.

-- Coalition forces also captured a wanted individual in Baghdad believed to be involved in the al Qaeda in Iraq network in the city. The wanted individual allegedly is involved in al Qaeda in Iraq media and propaganda operations. Three other suspects were detained during the operation.

-- In Tikrit, coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists, including a wanted individual believed to be involved in facilitating funds for al Qaeda operations. Reports say the wanted individual also operated in western Baghdad and in and around Fallujah. The suspect also allegedly is associated with foreign-terrorist-facilitation networks and al Qaeda leaders operating in the Tigris River Valley.

-- Coalition forces captured a wanted individual and three additional suspects during two operations south of Yusufiyah. The wanted individual is reportedly a leader involved in the Karkh terrorist network.

"We will continue to aggressively locate and dismantle the al Qaeda networks that threaten the security of Iraq," said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "The Iraqi people have chosen a future that does not include al Qaeda's brutal ideology."

Also yesterday, Iraqi and U.S. Special Forces' troops detained a suspected al Qaeda terrorist leader who is believed to command more than 300 terrorists during a raid near Karmah. The suspect is reported to be responsible for numerous bombings and mortar attacks that have killed and wounded several Iraqi and coalition troops. The suspect is also said to be responsible for kidnapping and killing three Iraqi soldiers.

In other Iraq operations, coalition forces killed an al Qaeda in Iraq fighter during a firefight near Adwaniyah on Dec. 10.

Elsewhere, Iraqi soldiers detained 15 insurgents during two separate incidents in Hawr Rajab on Dec. 9. During the first incident, soldiers investigating an improvised explosive device were attacked by small-arms fire. Iraqi soldiers pursued the extremists. The Iraqi soldiers then discovered a second roadside bomb consisting of a 122 mm mortar equipped with a cell-phone detonator. The Iraqi troops detained four locals they believed were involved in the firefight. Both bombs were cleared by Iraqi soldiers, and the suspects were taken in for questioning. Another group of Iraqi troops detained 11 more suspects.

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