Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with U.S. Special Operations Forces as advisers, detained 16 suspected terrorists during three separate intelligence-driven operations Sept. 29 throughout Iraq. During one operation, Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader and two alleged cell members in Yusafiyah. The al-Qaeda in Iraq cell is believed to be responsible for improvised explosive device and direct fire attacks against Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces. The group is directly linked to an Aug. 16 IED attack against an Iraqi Army convoy that killed all of the occupants and destroyed a Nissan Pickup. The group also engaged in firefights Aug. 9 against checkpoints in Yusifiyah. The cell leader and his members are additionally suspected of two separate IED attacks Aug. 2 and 4 against military forces in the area. Coalition Forces recovered the two IEDs, but one of them damaged a U.S. Army tactical vehicle.
During a concurrent operation, two suspected criminals were detained in the Baghdad area. One of the criminals, who is believed to be a member of an explosively formed penetrator cell, is suspected of conducting EFP attacks in Shuhida.
In a separate operation, Iraqi Army Scouts detained a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader and ten other suspected insurgents in the Samarra area. The senior leader is believed to be responsible for facilitating the movement of foreign terrorists between Iraq and terrorist training camps in Syria. He is also suspected of supporting criminal activity in the Al Tash and Dahwa regions of Ramadi. Nine of the alleged insurgents were detained while the assault force cleared the village and two more were detained as they attempted to flee the target area. The suspected insurgents are linked to kidnappings, weapons smuggling, establishing illegal checkpoints, foreign terrorist facilitation, and IED and direct fire attacks.