Coalition forces killed four and detained nine suspected terrorists while further degrading al-Qaeda in Iraq operations in central and northern Iraq Wednesday and Thursday [June 11-12 2008].

Detainees in custody provided information that led Coalition forces to Diyala province, where they targeted leaders of an al-Qaeda in Iraq suicide-bombing network Thursday. Coalition forces positively identified the targeted individual, known for making suicide vests, and followed him into a remote area north of Baqubah, about 50 kilometers north of Baghdad. The area was believed to be a hideout location used to house weapons. The house was rigged with booby-traps throughout. Coalition forces called for supporting aircraft to engage the area, which triggered several secondary explosions, indicating bomb materials and weapons on the ground. Four terrorists were killed in the engagement. Once the site was safe, the ground force moved in and discovered a tunnel system, fighting positions, weapons, military-style assault vests and documents detailing terrorist operations.

Also Thursday, Coalition forces targeted another member of the Diyala suicide-bombing network who had fled to Tirkit and detained three suspected terrorists during the operation. In Mosul, Coalition forces captured a wanted man and one other suspect who are alleged associates of AQI senior leaders.

A wanted man allegedly involved in producing remote-controlled bomb triggers identified himself to Coalition forces during an operation in Baghdad Thursday. The man, who was detained with an associate, is also suspected of having ties to senior AQI leadership in Baghdad.

Coalition forces also captured an alleged AQI propaganda cell leader Wednesday in Abu Ghraib, about 30 kilometers west of Baghdad. The man is believed to spearhead production and distribution of extremist propaganda in Baghdad and have ties to al-Qaeda members outside Iraq. Coalition forces discovered large amounts of media materials in the target building and detained one additional suspect.

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Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained 10 suspects during operations Monday through Wednesday to disrupt al-Qaeda networks operating in Diyala province.

Intelligence from previous operations led Coalition forces to an area in Diyala where al-Qaeda in Iraq networks reportedly moved, seeking safe haven after successful Iraqi and Coalition operations pushed them out of the Muqdadiya area. Numerous reports indicate members of these networks are associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders operating in Tikrit, Tarmiyah and Baghdad. The network is allegedly responsible for an increase in suicide attacks in the Diyala River Valley and the construction of house-borne improvised explosive devices, anti-aircraft activity and false checkpoints. The region also serves as a key logistics pipeline for terrorists, supplies and information.

During the multi-day operation Coalition forces discovered 13 HBIEDs and seven weapons caches, including 300 anti-aircraft rounds, and improvised explosive device-making materials, including 80 bottles of ammonium chloride, various bags of ammonium nitrate, sulfur and polyethylene, and jugs of homemade explosives.

Monday, Coalition forces received small-arms and sniper fire from several locations. The ground force returned fire in self-defense and called for supporting aircraft to engage, killing four terrorists. An Iraqi civilian was caught in the cross fire and wounded. The individual received immediate medical care before being evacuated to a military medical facility. Two suspected terrorists were detained by Coalition forces during Monday’s operations.

During the following two days, Coalition forces encountered 19 structures believed to be HBIEDs. Coalition forces safely destroyed the buildings through a series of kinetic airstrikes with numerous secondary explosions confirming the presence of HBIEDs. The ground force detained an additional eight suspected terrorists during the multi-day operation.