Coalition Captures 10, Disrupts Cells in Northern, Central Iraq

American Forces Press Service

Oct. 6, 2008 - Coalition forces captured 10 suspected terrorists in northern and central Iraq today as they continued to disrupt al-Qaida in Iraq networks, military officials reported. Coalition forces targeted an alleged terrorist courier believed to have ties to regional al-Qaida in Iraq leaders during an operation near Sharqat, about 55 miles south of Mosul, officials said. Three suspects believed to be associates of the wanted man also were detained during the operation.

Two coordinated coalition operations in Fallujah, about 35 miles west of Baghdad, targeted the city's al-Qaida in Iraq car- and roadside-bomb networks, officials said. Seven suspects were detained, including a wanted man believed to be an area car bomb facilitator who intelligence reports suggest conspires directly with regional al-Qaida in Iraq leaders. Several rifles, along with multiple magazines and ammunition, were recovered at one of the locations.

Yesterday, U.S. soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, seized several illegal weapons caches in and around Baghdad, officials reported.

The caches included 29 AK-47 assault rifles, a Draganov sniper rifle with a 14-power scope, a bolt-action rifle, an RPK light machine gun, an SKS rifle and three pistols, they said.

Also, an Iraqi army unit seized 11 small cluster bombs and turned them over to the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

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