Iraqi Army Forces detained two suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leaders during an intelligence driven raid in support of Operation Phantom Strike Sept. 10 in the Sharqat village in northern Iraq. One of the targeted individuals is accused of the kidnapping and beheading of Iraqi Soldiers and emplacing improvised explosive devices targeting Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
Iraqi Army and U.S. Special Forces also seized five AK-47 assault rifles, one shotgun, one 9mm pistol, five AK-47 bayonets, body armor and numerous al-Qaeda documents. The forces also detained three other suspected al-Qaeda terrorists during this operation.
In a separate operation, Iraqi Army forces detained two Sunni extremists during a raid near Tikrit. The extremists are linked to a small arms and rocket propelled grenade attack on Coalition Forces August 28 that left one civilian critically wounded. |