A terrorist detonated a suicide vest Sunday in Mosul while Coalition forces were conducting an operation to capture a wanted man.

As Coalition forces entered the building housing the terrorist, they began receiving small arms fire. Coalition forces returned fire once engaged. A terrorist detonated a suicide vest shortly thereafter in the house.

During the operation, five terrorists, along with three women and three children were killed. Two additional children, one of which was injured, were found near the building and moved to safety.

Coalition forces conducted a sweep of the building once it was secure and found a hidden weapons cache containing multiple small arms weapons and additional explosives.

“This is just another tragic example of how al-Qaeda in Iraq hides behind innocent Iraqis. The terrorist exploded his suicide vest in close proximity to women and children, and in a house full of explosives and weapons,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman.

In separate operations near Baghdad Sunday, Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and detained two additional suspects. All four individuals are believed to have ties to an AQI improvised explosive device network.

Coalition forces operating in Hawijah, 60 km southwest of Kirkuk, Sunday detained one suspected terrorist believed to be associated with an IED facilitator in Diyala province.

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The legacy leader of one of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s Baghdad networks who was the mastermind behind some of the city’s recent bombings was killed by Coalition forces Friday.

Mahir Ahmad Mahmud Judu’ al-Zubaydi, also known as Abu Assad or Abu Rami, is believed to be the AQI “emir” of the Rusafa neighborhood of Baghdad. He exercised a degree of control over terrorist operations in other districts as well.

Coalition forces were led to a building in Baghdad’s Adhamiya neighborhood Friday after intelligence reports indicated Abu Rami was there. Upon arriving at the building, Coalition forces surrounded it and called for the occupants to surrender. During the callout, forces were engaged by small arms fire coming from the building. In response to this hostile act, and acting in self defense, Coalition forces returned fire, killing Abu Rami and a female.

“Sadly, here again is a case where AQI has put innocent lives in danger in order to protect themselves and shield their terrorist efforts,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman.

Coalition forces evacuated several children from the building before performing a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance inside the residence. When the house caught fire after the detonation, forces called for assistance from the local fire department, and as a safety precaution, began evacuating surrounding buildings.

In his position, Abu Rami allegedly masterminded numerous car bombings. A Baghdad bombing cell in his network is assessed to be responsible for separate car bomb and suicide bomber attacks in Baghdad Oct. 2, which killed eight people and wounded more than 30 others.

Abu Rami was reportedly also responsible for multiple car bombings and mortar attacks in Sadr City in 2006 and 2007, including one car bombing on Nov. 25, 2006, which killed more than 200 people.

In addition to car bombings, Abu Rami was assessed to be a planner and participant in multiple kidnappings and videotaped executions. In a video recording from June 2006, Abu Rami is seen shooting one of four Russian diplomats.

Abu Rami allegedly had ties to AQI senior leaders in Baghdad and the Northern Belt around the city. He is reportedly responsible for attacks in Baghdad, Salah ad-Din and Diyala provinces.

Originally a member of Ansar al-Islam, Abu Rami joined AQI in 2004 and became the military “emir” of the Rusafa district in 2007 before taking over responsibility for all terrorist operations there this year. Suspected members of the network already in custody say Abu Rami was focused on car bombings and suicide bombings and personally selected the targets. He allegedly ordered and directed a car-bombing attack May 1 that killed one American Soldier and wounded three Soldiers and three Iraqi civilians. Detainee reporting puts him at the scene of the crime.

Intelligence reports indicate that Abu Rami advocated going after civilian targets and inflicting casualties on the Iraqi population.

While the terrorist group has been marginalized by its attacks on Iraqi civilians, detainees in custody report that Baghdad’s AQI membership has been severely curbed by many men joining Sons of Iraq groups. They say AQI is unable to effectively recruit new members because of the perception the terrorist group is failing.

“Abu Rami did nothing for the people of Iraq except fill their cemeteries with innocent victims,” Admiral Driscoll said. “His removal from the AQI network will send shockwaves through Baghdad’s terrorist bombing networks. Its ability to conduct grizzly attacks against Iraqi civilians and Coalition and Iraqi forces has been severely crippled by this precision operation.”

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One of the most unusual attacks in Iraq.

Two al-Qaeda in Iraq members were detained Sept. 1 in Mosul for planning a bomb attack against Provincial Hall.

During a patrol that lead to a search of a bakery near Provincial Hall, Coalition force soldiers detained two AQI members who tested positive for explosives. CF soldiers were acting on a report regarding a planned bomb attack against Provincial Hall by way of a tunnel system.

“This kind of evil deed attempted by al-Qaeda and their affiliates in the Islamic State of Iraq shows how evil this organization is,” said Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, commander of Multi-National Division-North. “To be planning this kind of activity during the holy month of Ramadan, against a government building where innocent Iraqis work, shows that these organizations care nothing for the good people of Iraq.”

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ISOF kill two suspected terrorists in Diyala Province

Iraqi Special Operations Forces killed two suspected terrorists in Diyala Province July 17 during an operation to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq activity in the region.

As the ISOF approached the suspects, one of the suspects raised his hands while the other reached for a suicide vest. Perceiving hostile intent, the ISOF engaged the men, killing both suspects.

The two suspects were allegedly part of an AQI cell with at least 20 members, including foreign fighters. The cell is said to conduct mortar attacks and murders against Iraqi civilians and improvised explosive device attacks against Coalition forces. Reports indicate the cell moves at night and uses “spider holes” by the canal to emplace IEDs. Reports also indicate many of the terrorists manning these positions wear suicide vests or control the IED triggers.

A Coalition force explosive ordnance disposal team safely destroyed the suicide vest.

Baghdad National ERB detains two suspected Special Groups criminals, kills six

Baghdad National Emergency Response Brigade detained two suspected Special Groups criminals and killed six during an operation in Baghdad July 20.

In Sadr City, the ERB detained a suspected Special Groups criminal leader and an associate believed to be responsible for supplying lethal weapons to other Special Groups criminals in Baghdad.

One of the suspected criminals is said to be the leader of a cell responsible for multiple attacks against Coalition forces in the area and for seeking lethal weapons from Iran.

After detaining the suspects, ERB proceeded to a suspected cache site located in the New Baghdad district and came under attack, returning fire and killing two. After a brief cease fire, ERB came under fire again from elements within the building and called for close air support from Coalition forces. Coalition aircraft fired 40 and 105 mm rounds at the building, when a large explosion occurred, leading the team to believe it contained a weapons cache.

While assessing the building, ERB continued to come under attack. Three suspected criminals fled into an adjacent building while four others were killed during the exchange of gunfire.

“The Baghdad National ERB demonstrated its ability to execute precision operations in support of the Government of Iraq’s efforts to disrupt Special Groups criminal activities in Baghdad,” said Lt. Col. Neil Harper, a Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

Here’s a good story from the Brits about the work being done in Mosul.

Al-Qaeda is driven from Mosul bastion after bloody last stand

– Sunday Times

In Mosul, Al-Qaeda’s last redoubt, the group still held sway as recently as Easter. Now it lacks the strength to fight the army face to face and has lost the sympathy of most of the ordinary citizens who once admired its stand against the occupying forces and their allies in the Iraqi army.