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Coalition targets al-Qaeda leadership, media networks; two killed, 11 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 11 suspects today and Thursday during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
During an operation north of Samarra Thursday, Coalition forces targeted a suspected associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist operating in Samarra. The suspect is associated with numerous terrorist leaders operating in the Salah ah Din province, to include one who was killed during an operation Nov. 21 for his role in the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in Kirkuk (see MNF-I press release A071121a, “Six killed, 10 detained as Coalition forces target al-Qaeda leadership, foreign terrorist facilitators,” dated Nov. 21, 2007).
During the operation, Coalition forces confirmed the presence of the wanted individual and a supporting aircraft were called. Two armed terrorists were killed during the operation. One of the terrorists was wearing a suicide vest armed with three initiation systems. In addition to the suicide vest, the ground force also found numerous explosives and weapons in a vehicle on site, all of which were safely destroyed to prevent further use for terrorist activity.
This morning in Tikrit, Coalition forces targeted a suspected terrorist believed to be involved in al-Qaeda media and propaganda operations, and to have ties to foreign facilitation networks operating in and outside of Iraq. Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists and found numerous media materials on site.
During an operation in Mosul today, Coalition forces detained nine suspected terrorists while targeting a suspected associate of the al-Qaeda senior leader for the region.
“As Iraqi and Coalition forces continue to target al-Qaeda at every level of their network, the Iraqi people are rejecting their senseless and barbaric attacks,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, MNF-I spokesman.