Troops in Iraq Kill Suspected Terrorists, Capture Dozens

American Forces Press Service

April 27, 2008 - Coalition forces killed at least 20 suspected terrorists, captured scores of others, and seized weapons caches in Iraq over the past four days, military officials said.

During operations today:

-- Coalition forces conducted two operations east of Samarra targeting associates of a known al-Qaida in Iraq facilitator who is a liaison with senior terrorist leaders. Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists and discovered weapons and a building wired to explode. After moving civilians away from the area, coalition forces called for an air strike to destroy the building and weapons.

-- During operations in Mosul in northern Iraq, about 100 kilometers from the Turkish border, coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists. One of the suspects is believed to be an al-Qaida in Iraq leader in the city, and another is believed to be part of an illegal terrorist court system. During the operation, coalition forces found a building containing bomb-making materials, which they safely destroyed on site.

-- South of Taji, coalition forces captured an alleged associate of al-Qaida in Iraq leaders and five additional suspects believed to have ties to the terrorist network in the northern belt around Baghdad.

In operations around Iraq yesterday:

-- Coalition forces conducted coordinated operations targeting associates of an individual who allegedly acts as a facilitator and liaison for al-Qaida in Iraq leaders, military officials said. When coalition forces arrived in the target area east of Tikrit, they encountered small-arms fire. Responding in self-defense, coalition forces returned fire and called for supporting aircraft to engage the hostile threat. Three terrorists were killed in the initial engagement, but coalition forces continued to receive fire as they secured buildings in the area. Again engaging the hostile threat, coalition forces killed two more terrorists. Inside the buildings, coalition forces discovered weapons and more than 900 pounds of explosives, which they safely destroyed on site.

-- The operators of an unmanned aerial vehicle observed two armed criminals who were providing over-watch on a vehicle route, and were believed to be triggermen for an improvised explosive device. A Multinational Division Baghdad aerial weapons team was called into the area and fired a Hellfire missile, killing the two criminals. Soldiers on the ground verified the IED's locationand safely removed it as a threat. A short time later, Multinational Baghdad operators of an unmanned aerial vehicle positively identified two armed criminals and engaged them with a Hellfire missile, killing both.

-- During an operation east of Samarra, a terrorist approached coalition forces and detonated a suicide vest, killing himself. Another terrorist at the location moved to a tactical position and refused to follow the interpreter's instructions to surrender. Coalition forces, perceiving hostile intent from the terrorist, engaged and killed him. Seven suspected terrorists were detained during the coordinated operations.

-- Coalition forces went to a location northwest of Balad searching for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq senior leader. A man in the targeted building refused to comply with the interpreter's instructions and moved to a hidden position. When he refused to surrender, coalition forces perceived hostile intent and engaged the terrorist, killing him.

-- Four suspected terrorists were detained during a coalition operation in Yusufiyah targeting a close associate of an al-Qaida in Iraq leader in the southern belt around Baghdad. West of Baghdad, coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists while targeting an al-Qaida in Iraq leader whose group is suspected of instigating sectarian violence and facilitating attacks against coalition forces.

-- A Multinational Division Baghdad unmanned aerial vehicle killed two Iranian-backed "special groups" criminals in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.

-- Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Police Division, seized a munitions cache in Baghdad's West Rashid district. The Iraqi police seized blocks of C4 explosive and 107 mm rockets.

During April 25 operations:

-- Soldiers from the 5th Iraqi Army Division, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained 17 suspected al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists in the Sadiyah villages of Sama and Rabia. The patrol also confiscated more than 30 SPG-9 rounds, 40 various types of mortars and more than 100 mortar fuses. An anti-tank mine and an IED were also found and destroyed on site.

-- Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team seized homemade explosives and various materials used for making IEDs while conducting a cordon-and-search operation within the Bayaa community.

-- Quick Reaction Force 1 from the 1st Iraqi Army Quick Reaction Force began the latest stage of Operation Charge of the Knights. The last stage of the operation included clearing and searching homes in Huteen. The searches turned up several weapons caches including mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenades and launchers, and IEDs.

-- The Fallujah Special Weapons and Tactics unit, advised by U.S. Special Operations forces, detained one insurgent cell leader and eight others in an operation northeast of Karma. The cell leader is suspected of planning and launching IED attacks against coalition forces in the area and recruiting others to join his terrorist network.

-- Coalition forces killed four al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists and detained two other terrorists during an operation to disrupt al-Qaida in Iraq networks near Samarra and Quaraysh. Intelligence identified four terrorists traveling in a vehicle east of Samarra. When coalition forces pursued and attempted to detain the vehicle, two terrorists exited the vehicle carrying assault rifles and grenades. Coalition forces engaged, killing two and detaining two other terrorists. Another vehicle with alleged terrorists inside was stopped near Quaraysh. When the terrorists resisted capture and displayed hostile intent, the coalition forces engaged and killed them.

During April 24 operations:

-- A tip led soldiers from 4th Company, 4th Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, to a cache of IED-making materials southwest of Yusifiyah. The cache included 19 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, 15 hand grenades, 10 60 mm mortar rounds, four cases of .50-caliber ammunition, one case of machine gun ammunition, 10 handheld radios, eight switch boxes and multiple trigger components.

-- In the Jazeera Desert, 2nd Iraqi Army Division soldiers conducted a cordon-and-search operation to identify insurgent lines of communication in the area. During the patrol, ground forces saw a truck that appeared to be stuck in the sand. The two individuals in the truck were told to dismount. The two men dismounted the vehicle for a few seconds, but quickly returned to the truck and began shooting at the Iraqi soldiers with AK-47 assault rifles. Iraqi soldiers returned fire and killed both individuals. One Iraqi soldier also was killed during the firefight.

-- In western Ninevah province, 3rd Iraqi Army Division soldiers detained three suspects during a cordon-and-search patrol.

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