Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained two suspected terrorists during two coordinated operations targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq weapons facilitator July 17 southwest of Tarmiyah.During the first precision operation, Coalition Forces approached a vehicle believed to contain a terrorist weapons facilitator connected to al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. As Coalition Forces neared the vehicle, three men emerged from the vehicle and engaged them with small arms fire. Coalition Forces, responding in self-defense, returned fire and killed the three armed men.
Nearby, Coalition Forces conducted a second precision operation targeting associates of high-level al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and detained two suspected terrorists. “We’re continuing to target al-Qaeda in Iraq’s foreign leadership to bring down the terrorist network responsible for murderous attacks on Iraqi civilians,” said Maj. Marc Young, an MNF-I spokesperson.