LOC10:37
07:37 GMT
BAGHDAD, Aug 13 (KUNA) -- The US Army in Iraq Monday reported that
"Coalition Forces captured 13 suspected terrorists with ties to extremist
militia Special Groups in a pre-dawn raid Sunday in Sadr City."
The statement on the MNF website said "Coalition Forces conducted the raid
to capture or kill highly-sought weapons facilitators with connections to the
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps.
"Those detained are suspected of facilitating the transport of weapons and
personnel from Iran into Iraq. They are also believed to have facilitated the
transport of deadly Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs) from Iran into Iraq
to be used against Coalition Forces."
The statement details that as the forces were departing the area, "they
encountered and destroyed a light utility truck that posed a threat to the
force.
"Coalition Forces attempted to signal the vehicle, however when the vehicle
failed to respond, Coalition Forces fired on the vehicle with small arms fire.
"During the raid, Coalition Forces confiscated a computer hard-drive,
documents, and photographs."
The statement also reported more details on the incident and said "A
Coalition air strike also engaged the same light utility truck, destroying the
truck and killing an estimated three to five people in the truck believed to
be terrorists.
"Coalition troops continue in their pursuit of unhelpful foreign influences
here in Iraq," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I Spokesperson. "Those
foreign influences are hindering the prospects of peace and stability in Iraq,
and we will continue to dismantle their networks."
The US Army meanwhile also reported that an assault aircraft launched an
air strike on a group of militants last Thursday and killed eight of them in
Salahideen, north of Baghdad.(end)
ahh.wsa
KUNA 131037 Aug 07NNNN