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

Aug. 31, 2007
Release A070831b 

5 terrorists killed, 13 suspects detained in Tigris River Valley 

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed five terrorists and detained 13 suspected terrorists during raids Friday targeting leaders of the al-Qaeda operational network in the Tigris River Valley.

Coalition Forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader southwest of Balad who orders, finances and carries out attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces in Salah ad Din province.  Intelligence reports indicate he recently assumed a position coordinating terrorist logistics between Baghdad and Mosul, and may be trying to obtain chemical weapons for use in attacks against Coalition Forces.   

After ground forces secured the target building, they received small arms fire from a nearby building.  Coalition Forces responded in self-defense and returned fire, killing five armed terrorists.  Four additional suspected terrorists were detained.

Coalition Forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq’s network operations during raids in Bayji and Baghdad.  In the northern city, Coalition Forces captured the alleged administrative emir of Haditha, who was believed to be residing in Bayji because of Iraqi and Coalition Forces’ pressure on al-Qaeda in Iraq members in Haditha.  Two other suspected terrorists were detained in the raid. 

In southern Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured a suspected key leader in the city’s car-bombing network.  Intelligence reports indicate the individual had moved into the leadership position after his predecessor was detained in an operation June 10 and the previous leader was detained May 29.  Several other leaders in the network have been killed or captured in the past two months, including Ali Latif Ibrahim Hamad al Falahi, who coordinated car bombing operations in Baghdad and was killed Aug. 20.  Coalition Forces also detained five other suspected terrorists during the raid.

During operations to locate al-Qaeda in Iraq safe houses north of Tarmiyah, Coalition Forces found a building containing homemade explosives and rigged with command detonation wires.  An explosives team with the ground forces safely destroyed the materials on site. 

“Al-Qaeda in Iraq is feeling the pressure from our operations to disrupt their nefarious activities,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.  “We will continue to hunt the terrorists who seek to thwart Iraq’s progress.” 

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