THE TENSION: Troops Detain Dozens, Kill Suspected Terrorist in Recent Iraq Operations

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2007 (AFPS) -- Iraqi and coalition forces captured 32 suspected terrorists and killed another in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.

During an operation in Mosul today, coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an al Qaeda in Iraq leader with connections to terrorist operations. The suspect, who allegedly received foreign funding, has waged a campaign of murder and intimidation, hijacking fuel trucks, manufacturing car bombs, and using improvised explosive devices against coalition forces, military officials said.

An IED detonated near one of the ground force’s vehicles during the operation, officials said, but no injuries were reported. The suspect identified himself to coalition troops, who detained him.

Elsewhere in Iraq today, coalition forces captured a wanted individual south of Baqouba who allegedly is an al Qaeda in Iraq leader in the Khan Bani Saad area, and is associated with several al Qaeda leaders around Diyala, military officials said. Troops detained one additional suspect.

South of Baghdad today, coalition forces captured another wanted individual believed to be a weapons and foreign terrorist facilitator in the region with numerous ties to foreign terrorists, officials said.

During operations in Iraq yesterday:

Coalition forces detained eight suspects in central and northern Iraq while targeting terrorists allegedly associated with foreign terrorists and al Qaeda in Iraq planners and financiers. The detainees are suspected of attacking coalition and Iraqi security forces, military officials said.

Iraqi and coalition forces captured three terrorists in the Ameriya area in an effort to disrupt a terrorist cell allegedly responsible for IED, rocket and small-arms attacks against the combined Iraqi-coalition force and Iraqi civilians. During the operation, troops shot and killed a man who tugged at his clothing as if detonating a suicide vest bomb, military officials said.

Iraqi special operations forces and U.S. Special Forces soldiers captured a suspected extremist cell leader in Baghdad. The suspect reportedly purchased and transported weapons used in attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces, officials said.

In Iraq during Nov. 26 operations:

An Iraqi emergency response unit advised by U.S. Special Forces soldiers captured seven suspects in the Doura neighborhood of Baghdad who allegedly are responsible for a wide range of criminal activities, including kidnapping and murder, officials said.

The Habbaniyah special weapons and tactics team and U.S. special operations forces captured four suspects, including an individual who allegedly has housed al Qaeda terrorists and has been involved in numerous small-arms attacks, ambushes and IED attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces in Habbaniyah.

Iraqi special operations forces and U.S. forces detained two suspects in Mosul during a raid aimed at disrupting terrorist activities in the area.

Fifth Iraqi Army Division and U.S. forces detained a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq terror cell leader and a second suspect while raiding a terrorist safe house in Saker village. The terrorist cell allegedly is believed to be responsible for kidnapping and assassinations, along with constructing and emplacing improvised explosive devices, military officials said.

Iraqi security forces and U.S. Special Forces soldiers detained a suspected terrorist in Tikrit believed to be involved in several kidnappings, IED, mortar, rocket-propelled-grenade, and car-bomb attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces.