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MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
703.343.8790
July 23, 2007
Release A070723c
Coalition Forces kill 9 terrorists, detain 8 and destroy weapons caches
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed nine terrorists, detained eight suspected terrorists and uncovered weapons caches during an operation near Muqudadiyah July 20-21.
As Coalition Forces arrived in the area, they received small arms fire from near the Tigris River. The ground forces, acting in self-defense, called in close air support to engage the armed terrorists attacking Coalition Forces. One terrorist was killed in the air strike.
Hours later, four armed terrorists engaged Coalition Forces with small arms fire. Coalition Forces, responding in self-defense against the hostile force, returned fire, killing one terrorist and wounding two suspected terrorists. Enemy forces in the area continued to periodically engage Coalition Forces with small arms fire from nearby palm groves. Coalition Forces, taking fire from the armed terrorists, called in another air strike, killing one armed terrorist and wounding two more suspected terrorists. Terrorists continued to engage the ground forces and Coalition Forces returned fire in self-defense, killing five more terrorists and wounding one suspected terrorist. Coalition Forces medics treated the wounded on scene throughout the morning and transported them to a military medical facility for further treatment.
While on patrol, Coalition Forces discovered a group of terrorists emplacing an improvised explosive device. To disrupt the threat of the terrorists’ explosive weapon, ground forces engaged the group and killed one terrorist.
Throughout the operation, terrorists periodically attacked Coalition Forces using small arms and indirect fire. One mortar attack injured seven Iraqi civilians. Coalition Forces medics treated the injured civilians on scene and one was transported to a military medical facility for further treatment.
The ground forces discovered a terrorist safe house hiding a weapons cache. The safe house contained rifles, ammunition, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and rounds, mortars, military-style assault vests, fuses and camouflage uniforms. An explosives team destroyed the cache on site.
Eight suspected terrorists were detained during the operation. One detainee led the ground forces to a cache of RPGs, a sniper rifle, ammunition, mortars and improvised explosive devices ready for use against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. A search of another detainee’s home uncovered two homemade hand grenades, ammunition, a homemade rocket launcher, IED crush wire, intelligence paperwork about the area and al-Qaeda in Iraq media propaganda.
“We’re targeting al-Qaeda members and leaders no matter where they hide,” said Maj. Marc Young, an MNF-I spokesperson. “These terrorists operate with a system of values totally inconsistent with those of the Iraqi people.”
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 A Coalition Forces Soldier conducts security in a former terrorist safe house located in Maqdadiyah, Iraq, July 22, 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr.)
 Coalition Forces discovered this room terrorists used to store homemade rocket launchers and explosive material inside a former safe house located in Maqdadiyah, Iraq, July 22, 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr.)
 A U.S. soldier stands in an enemy fighting hole and holds the firearm a terrorist used against Coalition Forces just an hour prior in Maqdadiyah, Iraq, July 20, 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Rodriguez)
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