Terror cell leader killed, others held near Balad

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Terror cell leader killed, others held near Balad
By Matt Millham, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, December 8, 2007

American and Iraqi special forces killed a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist and captured eight others in a raid on a cell near Balad, Iraq, on Thursday, according to a Multi-National Corps-Iraq news release.

The cell reportedly was involved in placing a makeshift bomb that killed three U.S. airmen near Logistics Support Area Anaconda in November, and is suspected of other attacks, according to the release.

Iraqi special operations forces and U.S. Special Forces carried out the raid to capture a known al-Qaida in Iraq leader who is also reported to have launched indirect-fire attacks against LSA Anaconda. The leader was killed during the operation, officials said.

Several assault rifles, loaded magazines, hand grenades, 82 mm mortar rounds and body armor were found during the raid.

In a separate operation, Iraqi security forces and U.S. Special Forces detained 47 suspects for questioning during a cordon and search of Al Aswad village.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50808