FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. A061203a
Dec. 3, 2006

SIX TERRORISTS KILLED, FOREIGN FIGHTER SAFE HOUSES DESTROYED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed six terrorists and destroyed two known foreign fighter safe houses as they conducted a raid in Gharma Saturday night.

Recent intelligence reports indicated the targeted building was being used to harbor foreign fighters.  Intelligence reports also verified that several men were present at the targeted building during the time of the raid.

Coalition Forces determined that the use of precision fires against the building provided the greatest safety measures for both the surrounding residents and friendly forces by avoiding the possibility of stray small arms rounds during a firefight.  

After the air strike destroyed the building, Coalition Forces were able to determine that five terrorists, along with two women and one child, were killed.

Just before the air strike occurred, ground forces witnessed several terrorists moving to a nearby building.  Coalition Forces were able to clear that building, killing one other terrorist and detaining three suspected terrorists.  During a search of the building, ground forces found a weapons cache consisting of numerous small arms weapons and munitions.  The cache was destroyed to prevent further use by terrorists.

Local villagers expressed their gratitude to Coalition Forces after the raid for “ridding the area of terrorists,” whom they claimed had killed several of the men in their village.  When asked the whereabouts of her husband, one 21-year-old single mother of five children said, “The terrorists killed him.”

Coalition Forces take precautions to mitigate risks to civilians while in pursuit of terrorists; however, terrorists continue to put innocent civilians in danger by operating among them.