Al-Qaida Leader Killed in Mosul, Dozens Detained

American Forces Press Service

June 24, 2008 - Coalition forces killed a senior al-Qaida in Iraq leader and three other attackers and detained a dozen suspects in operations today. Coalition forces killed the al-Qaida in Iraq "emir" of Mosul and three other attackers. During the engagement, one man was killed while attempting to detonate a suicide vest he was wearing, and another attacker, a woman, was killed as she tried to detonate the same vest on the dead man.

Southwest of Mosul, coalition forces detained two terrorism suspects, and two others were captured in Tikrit, north of Baghdad. In Baghdad, forces detained five terrorism suspects while targeting a senior terrorist leader in the area.

In other operations today, coalition forces captured four suspects in a raid targeting a suspected Iranian-trained "special groups" commander in Baghdad's Karadah district. The targeted suspect reportedly has managed several attacks against coalition bases.

In operations yesterday:

-- Iraqi National Police and U.S. soldiers seized weapons caches in the New Baghdad district. Forces seized 25 AK-47 assault rifles, a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, 120 mm mortar round, 104 mm artillery round, two 155 mm artillery rounds, four 82 mm mortar rounds, and about 500 rounds of ammunition.

-- In Mosul, coalition forces captured an alleged senior advisor to an illegal terrorist court system. Two others were detained during the operation.

-- Soldiers in the Karadah security district of eastern Baghdad captured a suspect wanted for bombing attacks, kidnappings and murders.

-- Coalition forces captured a wanted man and another suspect in Baghdad. The wanted man is believed to have aided in planning attacks and kidnappings.

-- In Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad, forces caught one suspect.

In operations June 22 near Balad, forces detained a wanted man and another suspect. Another suspect was killed. The wanted man is believed to lead a terrorist cell responsible for murdering Iraqi citizens, placing roadside bombs and attacking coalition forces.

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