RELEASE NUMBER: 071218-01
DATE POSTED: DECEMBER 18, 2007

Iraqi Army Division Soldiers, U.S. Special Forces Capture Known Arms Dealer, Terrorist Cell Leader in Two Separate Operations

BALAD (Courtesy of CJSOTF-AP Public Affairs, Dec. 18, 2007) – Iraqi Army Division Soldiers, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured a known arms dealer in an operation in the Kirkuk Province Dec. 17 and a known terrorist cell leader Dec. 14 in Ba’ajah.  

Iraqi Army Soldiers, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured the arms dealer in an overnight operation in the Kirkuk Province. The dealer supplies Al Qaeda in Iraq networks, along with other terrorist groups, weapons for use against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.

In another operation Dec. 14, Iraqi Army Division Soldiers, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured a known terrorist cell leader in the village of Ba’ajah.

The terrorist is believed to have planned and conducted numerous attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces, including explosively formed penetrator and small arms fire attacks. Additionally, the terrorist is thought to have ties to foreign terrorist networks and large sums of money to finance additional attacks.

There were no Iraqi or U.S. Forces injured during either operation.

In other Operation Iraqi Freedom news:

Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain extremist leader and corrupt officer in separate operations

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained an extremist criminal leader and a corrupt Iraqi Police official believed to support terrorist activities in two separate raids Dec. 13.

In Baghdad, Iraqi and U.S. Special Forces detained a suspected extremist believed to be responsible for improvised explosive device and explosively formed penetrator attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.  He is also thought to be involved in the targeting of Coalition informants for attack.

In As Sadiyah, Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Special Forces detained an Iraqi Police Captain suspected of corruption.  The detainee is believed to support al-Qaeda in Iraq activities by facilitating early warning and intelligence operations for the terrorist organization.  

No Iraqi or U.S. Forces were injured during the operations. 

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