Coalition Forces Detain Terrorists; Iraqi, Coalition Troops Restore Order

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – Coalition Forces detained three terrorists May 24 near Samarra, Iraq, during a raid targeting a known al Qaeda associate, U.S. military officials said.The successful operation led to the capture of the known terrorist and two other male associates. The terrorist is believed to have a high-level role within the local insurgency.

The terrorists were in possession of various propaganda materials, to include CDs and tapes showing beheadings and information on improvised explosive devices.

Elsewhere in Iraq, about 500 Iraqi and U.S. soldiers and more than 100 Iraqi police conducted a raid May 24 in the Ubaydah region of southern Lutafiyah in response to reports of kidnappings and increased sectarian violence in the area.

The U.S. soldiers were from Multinational Division Baghdad’s 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Operation Chepultepec was Iraqi-planned and -led based on intelligence developed in collaboration with various Iraqi security force units, said U.S. Army Maj. Curt Taylor, operations officer for 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regtiment.

Iraqi police and coalition forces provided the outer cordon while Iraqi army troops advanced to their objective to drive the terrorists from the region. The combined forces encountered resistance from the armed terrorists but quickly quelled the fighting.

Iraqi soldiers detained 12 suspects and captured several enemy weapons, including a mortar tube with six projectiles and bomb-making materials. In an area near the fighting, Iraqi army soldiers also uncovered a weapons cache consisting of a 12.7 mm DShK machine gun with 150 rounds.

The Ubaydah region has been plagued in recent months by the escalation of sectarian and tribal strifem U.S. officials said.