Twelve Terrorist Killed – Thirty-Seven Detained By Coalition Forces
The recent set of raids by Coalition Forces and Iraqi National Troops yielded a heavy toll on the insurgent ranks. Twelve terrorist suspects were killed, and U.S. and coalition forces arrested and detained an additional thirty-seven suspects.
One hostage was discovered by U.S. troops and freed, and the multi day operation continues into the New Year as an attempt to interfere with Al Qaida.
Combined Iraqi and Coalition Forces operating in the Diyala River Valley near Muqdadiyah to rout out any Al-Qaida suspects that have chosen to return to the area. Previously it was believed that all Al-Qaida suspects and terrorist insurgents had been successfully driven from the area.
A raid in the last week of December resulted in a set of large amounts of weapons seized. A torture complex, mass graves and some tunnels were also discovered in the renewed series of raids, all of which were destroyed by Coalition Forces.
In operations last Monday, joint forces found a series of IED suicide type explosive and a bomb manufacturing facility. As they cleared the area where it was found, they found the hostage. It was an Iraqi national, a local citizen. He said he was taken, beaten, blindfolded and handcuffed, and had been in custody of the kidnappers.
Coalitions medics treated the man on site, and he was transported to a local joint forces medical facility for further treatment. As they were leaving with the freed hostage, U.S. Troops discovered that the building he was held in was wired to explode. The soldiers safely evacuated then destroyed the building itself for safety reasons.