MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
703.343.8790

July 4, 2007
Release A070704b

Coalition Forces kill 10 terrorists, detain nine suspected terrorists

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained nine suspected terrorists and killed 10 terrorists Wednesday morning during operations in the Anbar province and in Mosul targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq terror cell leaders and their operatives.

In western Iraq, Coalition Forces raided a series of buildings in Anbar province looking for a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who is known to be responsible for the torture of Iraqis civilians who are viewed as supporting Coalition Force.

As ground forces approached the first targeted location they encountered three individuals.  Two of the men were armed and the third attempted to draw his weapon on ground forces.  Responding to the threat, ground forces engaged the three armed men, killing them.  During this engagement three men from the targeted location across the street came outside of the building an began firing at Coalition Forces.  Coalition Forces returned fire in self-defense, killing the three armed terrorists from the building across the street.

Immediately following engagement with the six armed terrorists, Coalition Forces began receiving heavy machine gun fire from a third targeted location down the road from three armed terrorists on the buildings rooftop, while a forth individual on the ground was maneuvering towards the ground force.  Using appropriate escalation of force and responding to the threat, Coalition Forces called in close air support to suppress the enemy fire.  During the strafing conducted by the close air support aircraft, the three terrorists on the rooftop and the one terrorist on the ground were killed.

During the same operation in Anbar province, six suspected terrorists were detained for their association with the suspected al-Qaeda leader known for torturing Iraqi citizens.

In Mosul, Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq terror cell financier and two other suspected terrorists during an early morning raid.  Intelligence reports indicate that the alleged al-Qaeda cell financier was planning to have his terror cell attack the Mosul airfield.

“Every day we are removing terrorists from the ranks of al-Qaeda in Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.  “We will continue to seek out these despicable individuals who seek to kill and torture innocent Iraqi citizens in their attempt to destabilize the country.”
 
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