Al-Qaeda bombing, kidnapping cells degraded

Coalition forces captured six wanted men and detained 14 additional suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda elements around Iraq.

Three wanted men who are allegedly part of an al-Qaeda in Iraq bombing network in Bayji are in Coalition forces custody after two operations Wednesday and Thursday. The force detained five additional suspects in the operations, which were near Tikrit, about 160 kilometers north of Baghdad.

During a precision operation in Mosul on Thursday, Coalition forces captured a wanted man who is allegedly part of a kidnapping cell in the city. Another Thursday raid targeting associates of AQI leaders there netted six suspected terrorists.

Using information from an operation July 18, Coalition forces captured a wanted man and one additional suspect Wednesday in Mosul. The wanted man is believed to have ties to AQI leaders in the city.

Coalition forces in al-Jadidah, about 240 kilometers southwest of Baghdad, targeted a suspected smuggler who allegedly brings foreign terrorists into Iraq. When the force arrived, the wanted man identified himself to them and was subsequently detained.

In Suwayrah, about 55 kilometers south of Baghdad, Coalition forces targeted an AQI recruiter with ties to senior terrorist leaders and detained two suspects.

“Bombing and kidnapping cells will continue to be targeted by Iraqi and Coalition Forces until these terrorists are defeated,” said Maj. John Hall, MNF-I spokesman.