Strike targets al-Qaeda senior leaders; 8 terrorists killed, 14 suspects detained
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists and detained 14 suspected terrorists during coordinated operations targeting a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader west of Tarmiyah Monday and Tuesday.
Coalition Forces conducted an operation Monday targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of the northern belts around Baghdad, who is associated with deadly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks in the city. Surveillance indicated the senior leader and his associates had entered a building in a remote area. Coalition Forces then declared the target hostile, and to engage the terrorists before they were able to disperse, called in an air strike on the building. Secondary explosions ignited after the initial strike, indicating there were explosives inside. Coalition Forces assess five terrorists were killed in the strike.
Coalition Forces conducted an operation Monday targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of the northern belts around Baghdad, who is associated with deadly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks in the city. Surveillance indicated the senior leader and his associates had entered a building in a remote area. Coalition Forces then declared the target hostile, and to engage the terrorists before they were able to disperse, called in an air strike on the building. Secondary explosions ignited after the initial strike, indicating there were explosives inside. Coalition Forces assess five terrorists were killed in the strike.
When ground forces attempted to approach the site to assess damage, one terrorist engaged them with small arms fire. Countering in self-defense, Coalition Forces returned fire and killed the armed man. The ground forces resumed their approach to the building but discovered multiple fighting positions, heavy machine guns, booby traps and vehicles wired with explosives. Coalition Forces evacuated the area and called in air assets to destroy the enemy weapons.
Acting on intelligence gained from the Monday operation, Coalition Forces conducted additional coordinated raids in the area Tuesday morning. During the first of those, Coalition Forces used explosives to breach a door and enter a targeted building. A woman standing behind the door was killed in the explosion. Iraqis on the scene told Coalition Forces her husband had told her to block the door from the Americans.
As ground forces secured the building, one man was discovered concealing himself in another room, armed with grenades and a rifle aimed at the assault force. Coalition Forces, responding appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged the armed man, killing him. As they secured additional buildings on the scene, a man rushed to a window and attempted to pull a rifle from behind the curtains. Coalition Forces reacted to the hostile threat by engaging the man and killing him.
During a raid on another building, ground forces brought the occupants of a building outside to secure the area. One man, after previously being compliant, turned and rushed back into the building. Coalition Forces, perceiving a hostile threat, engaged the man and wounded him. He was treated on site and taken to a military medical facility for further treatment. He and six other suspected terrorists were detained during the raid.
Coalition Forces detained three more suspected terrorists during raids on four more buildings in the area.
“Taking down the bombing network in Baghdad is a top priority for us,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We will continue targeting the leaders who coordinate and execute murderous attacks on the Iraqi people.”
Acting on intelligence gained from the Monday operation, Coalition Forces conducted additional coordinated raids in the area Tuesday morning. During the first of those, Coalition Forces used explosives to breach a door and enter a targeted building. A woman standing behind the door was killed in the explosion. Iraqis on the scene told Coalition Forces her husband had told her to block the door from the Americans.
As ground forces secured the building, one man was discovered concealing himself in another room, armed with grenades and a rifle aimed at the assault force. Coalition Forces, responding appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged the armed man, killing him. As they secured additional buildings on the scene, a man rushed to a window and attempted to pull a rifle from behind the curtains. Coalition Forces reacted to the hostile threat by engaging the man and killing him.
During a raid on another building, ground forces brought the occupants of a building outside to secure the area. One man, after previously being compliant, turned and rushed back into the building. Coalition Forces, perceiving a hostile threat, engaged the man and wounded him. He was treated on site and taken to a military medical facility for further treatment. He and six other suspected terrorists were detained during the raid.
Coalition Forces detained three more suspected terrorists during raids on four more buildings in the area.
“Taking down the bombing network in Baghdad is a top priority for us,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We will continue targeting the leaders who coordinate and execute murderous attacks on the Iraqi people.”
(From press release#A070807b by MNF-I, Press Desk, Baghdad, Iraq)
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