Coalition Forces Kill Enemy Fighter, Detain 15 in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

Sept. 4, 2008 - Coalition forces killed one enemy fighter and detained 15 suspects during operations today targeting al-Qaida in Iraq bombing cells and their supporting networks in Baghdad and the Tigris River Valley, military officials reported. A suspected car-bombing cell leader and three alleged associates are in coalition custody after an operation in Baghdad. The alleged leader reportedly is involved in procuring of bomb components, building bombs and distributing them to the cell, which has been known to attack Iraqi civilians in northern Baghdad, officials said. He also is believed to have contact with terrorists around Iraq and internationally.

During the operation, a surveillance team saw an armed man try to sneak behind the target building. Coalition forces called for him to surrender and fired warning shots, but the gunman refused to comply. Perceiving hostile intent, coalition forces engaged and killed him.

Several operations in Tikrit targeted al-Qaida in Iraq cells operating in the Tigris River Valley and netted 10 suspected terrorists, including two wanted men. One of the wanted men is believed to be a senior terrorist leader in the area, and the other wanted man allegedly operates a bombing cell under his direction.

Also in the Tigris River Valley, coalition forces in Sharqat, about 55 miles south of Mosul, detained a suspected al-Qaida liaison. The man reportedly specializes in transporting false documents for terrorists.

In other operations, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers seized munitions yesterday and today.

While on patrol today, soldiers serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, attached to the 4th Infantry Division's 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, found a 155 mm round, a 120 mm round and two Italian manufactured anti-tank mines in Baghdad's East Rashid district.

Yesterday, soldiers serving with the 25th Infantry Division's Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, found a cache northwest of Baghdad. The munitions seized included 6 pounds of unidentified bulk explosives, two anti-aircraft gun mount, two anti-aircraft heavy machine guns, a rifle stock and two rifle barrels.

Also yesterday, soldiers serving with the 4th Infantry Division's Troop C, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, received a tip over the phone that led to a cache in East Rashid. The weapons seized included four claymore mines and nine rocket-propelled grenade rounds, two of which were of Iranian-made.

In operations Sept. 2:

-- A tip from a local citizen led Iraqi National Police officers to a cache in Baghdad's New Baghdad district. The find included five roadside bombs designed to pierce armor-hulled vehicles, three of which were made to look like rocks or boulders; a can of ammunition, three rocket-propelled grenades with warheads, a sniper scope, four M4 rifle magazines with ammunition, five RPGs with rockets, six anti-personnel rockets, a handheld radio and a bag of command wire.

-- Soldiers serving with the 10th Mountain Division's Company D, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, found a can of 12.7 mm rounds in New Baghdad.

-- A local resident led soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, to a cache north of Baghdad. The munitions included three RPG launchers, 10 RPG rounds, nine RPG boosters, three sticks of plastic explosive, an assault rifle with magazine, a revolver, a pistol and 6,000 rounds of ammunition.

-- Iraqi soldiers found a cache while searching empty houses in Baghdad's Mansour district. The items included an RPG launcher, a machine gun and two rifles.

-- Soldiers serving with 4th Infantry Division's Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, found a roadside bomb and about 75 pounds of TNT, with help from a "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group leader, in Baghdad's West Rashid district.

-- Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq member in Baghdad's Rashid district. Iraqi soldiers handed a suspect affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq to soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's Company C, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, in the Jihad community. The suspect allegedly is responsible for attacks against Iraqi citizens and coalition forces.

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