Eleven al-Qaeda terrorists killed, 23 suspects detained
By MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
May 4, 2008 - 2:05:35 PM
Blackanthem Military News
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition forces killed 11 terrorists and detained 23 suspects while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq in central and northern Iraq Saturday and today.
This morning near Lake Thar Thar, 80 miles northwest of Baghdad, Coalition forces used information compiled since Jan. 22 to target the foreign terrorist facilitation network. As they arrived at the target area, Coalition forces received small-arms fire, returned fire in self-defense and called for supporting aircraft. Nine terrorists were killed in the engagement, three of whom were wearing suicide vests. Coalition forces found grenades, rifles, ammunition and false identification documents on the scene. They safely destroyed the weapons and explosives, and detained nine suspected terrorists.
Coalition forces used intelligence gained from an operation April 4 to identify a suspected AQI terrorist in a vehicle near Samarra, 70 miles northwest of Baghdad, Saturday. When the driver failed to follow verbal commands to stop the vehicle or heed warning shots, Coalition forces engaged, killing two terrorists.
Today in Baghdad, Coalition forces used information from an operation Mar. 30 to capture a suspected associate of AQI senior leaders and one additional suspected terrorist.
Two related operations this morning near Bayji, 100 miles south of Mosul, targeted an AQI bombing network in Salah ad-Din province. Coalition forces detained 10 suspected terrorists, including a wanted man believed to be a weapons facilitator for the group.
In Mosul, Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists today while targeting senior leaders in the area.
"Coalition forces will continue to hunt down al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists who seek to undermine the Iraqi government and threaten a future of peace and security for the Iraqi people," said Lt. Col. Maura Gillen, MNF-I spokeswoman.