Terrorists with Suicide Vests Killed, Cell Leader Detained

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2008 - Coalition forces killed three terrorists - two of whom were wearing suicide vests - and detained six suspects, including an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq leader, during operations in Iraq's Diyala province today, military officials reported.

Coalition forces targeted regional terrorist leaders near Jalula, about 125 kilometers northeast of Baghdad. When forces arrived, several men ran from the target building and hid in nearby fields. Coalition forces repeatedly called out for the men to surrender and fired warning shots, but they refused to comply. Coalition forces found bomb-making materials and weapons in the target building, perceived hostile intent from the men and engaged them.

Two terrorists were killed in the engagement. One man who survived the engagement detonated his own suicide vest as coalition forces approached, killing only himself. One dead terrorist also was wearing a suicide vest that did not detonate, while the other was armed and wearing a military-style assault vest and ammunition. Coalition forces called for supporting aircraft, which destroyed the explosives in the target building and the suicide vest.

Also in Diyala, coalition forces captured an alleged al-Qaida leader who, according to detainees already in custody, is responsible for bombing attacks and assassinations in the Hawijah area. Five additional suspected terrorists were detained in the operation near Tuz Khurmartu, about 70 kilometers south of Kirkuk.

In other operations, coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists while targeting al-Qaida in Iraq operatives around two of the country's major cities yesterday and today.

During a precision operation in Baghdad today, coalition forces captured a man who reportedly is involved in a network that brings foreigners into Iraq to conduct attacks against civilians. Intelligence reports indicate the man conspires to forge documents for the terrorist network, officials said.

Coalition forces detained a suspected terrorist near Tarmiyah today while targeting al-Qaida members in the northern belt around Baghdad. In the capital, coalition forces targeted an associate of a Baghdad bombing cell yesterday and detained a suspected terrorist.

In Mosul today, coalition forces captured a wanted man with suspected ties to al-Qaida leaders in the northern city.

In other developments yesterday, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers seized a weapons cache in southern Baghdad's Rashid district.

Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division's Company E, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, reported finding 100 blasting caps, 20 rocket-propelled grenades, two 120 mm mortar rounds, a 60 mm mortar round, two anti-tank rounds and 35 parachute grenades in the Shurta community. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to remove the munitions.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

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