Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
                       

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                 
Release No. 20060707-04
July 7, 2006

Iraqi Forces Capture High-Level Insurgent Leader in Baghdad

BALAD – Iraqi Army forces captured a high-level insurgent during an early morning raid today in eastern Baghdad as part of Operation Together Forward, or in Arabic – Amaliya Ma'an ila Al-Amam , the Iraqi government's plan to improve security conditions in Baghdad.

Iraqi forces returned defensive fire when they were attacked with small arms fire including fire from crew-served weapons and rocket propelled grenades from the roof top of the building from which the insurgent leader was detained. An estimated 30-40 enemy fighters were killed or wounded in the 43-minute firefight.

The captured individual heads multiple insurgent cells in Baghdad whose main focus is to conduct attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. These attacks include the use of Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, and vehicle-borne IEDs.

He and his followers have kidnapped, tortured and murdered Iraqi citizens, and he is also is personally responsible for the killing two Iraqi soldiers in an attempt to improve his organization's status with higher leadership. Additionally, he is linked to a “punishment committee” that carries out vigilante judgment on perceived enemies of his organization.

This individual is also involved in the transfer of weapons from Syria into Iraq to reportedly facilitate his efforts to splinter away from his current insurgent organization.

No Iraqi or coalition forces were wounded or killed during this operation.

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