A suspected al-Qaida in Iraq explosives cell leader was killed and a suspected terrorist was arrested in operations in Iraq in recent days, military officials reported.

A suspected al-Qaida in Iraq explosives cell leader was killed March 21 during a combined security operation in Yanijah Buyuk, south of Kirkuk.

Acting on a warrant issued by an Iraqi judge, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors searched a residential building for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq explosives cell member who is believed to have been involved in multiple improvised explosive device attacks in the Kirkuk area, including planning an upcoming vehicle-borne IED attack in Kirkuk on the Kurdish new year, which was yesterday. The suspected leader also is allegedly connected to higher-level al-Qaida in Iraq leaders in Tamim province.

During the operation, the security team spotted an individual inside as it approached the building. The suspect refused to comply with the team’s directions to exit the building and instead reached for an assault rifle nearby. Perceiving an immediate threat to their safety, security team members shot and killed the gunman, who later was identified as the wanted individual.

No additional suspects were injured or arrested.

Iraqi police arrested a suspected terrorist yesterday during a combined security operation in western Baghdad to capture a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader.

Iraqi police and U.S. advisors searched several buildings for the suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader who is believed to facilitate financing for the terrorist group, associate regularly with other high-level al-Qaida in Iraq leaders and coordinate deadly vehicle-borne IED attacks throughout the capital city.

Preliminary questioning and evidence collected during the operation led Iraqi police to arrest a suspected criminal associate of the wanted individual.

Iraqi police arrested three suspected terrorists, two of whom are believed to be al-Qaida in Iraq leaders, in two March 13 operations, military officials reported.

In Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched two buildings for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader who allegedly provides financial support, explosives and weapons to numerous terrorist cells operating in the region.

The building in which the wanted individual was found also contained a hidden room where the security team discovered several AK-47 assault rifles and cases of ammunition.

After conducting preliminary questioning and examining the evidence collected at the scene, Iraqi forces identified and arrested the wanted man and a suspected criminal associate.

During a second operation in southwestern Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected mid-level al-Qaida in Iraq leader who is believed to have helped in planning past high-profile vehicle-bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital. Information and evidence gathered during the operation led Iraqi security forces to identify and arrest the wanted man.

Iraqi police, working with U.S. advisors, arrested five suspected members of the al-Qaida in Iraq and Islamic State of Iraq terrorist groups today during operations in Iraq’s Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, military officials reported.

In Saytiyah, about 65 miles northeast of Baghdad, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors searched with an arrest warrant for an alleged Islamic State of Iraq member known to be directly linked to a—Qaida in Iraq. The man is suspected of orchestrating attacks in Baghdad from remote locations in Diyala province, and also is wanted for providing vehicles for vehicle-borne bombings in the region.

Iraqi police established a cordon and searched a building during the operation. During preliminary questioning and based on evidence found at the scene, a suspect was determined to be connected with the Islamic State of Iraq network and was arrested without incident. The warranted man was not apprehended.

In a separate operation, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors searched for an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq and Islamic State of Iraq associate in a rural area about 50 miles northwest of Baghdad.

The team searched a building and questioned people. Based on information gathered at the scene, they arrested four people suspected of engaging in terrorist activity.

Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, arrested several terrorism suspects in Iraq in recent days, military officials reported.

In Samarra today, Iraqi police with a warrant searched for a man suspected of having close ties with the Islamic State of Iraq terrorist group. Although the suspect was not captured, another was arrested based on evidence found at the scene.

In western Baghdad yesterday, Iraqi soldiers, with U.S. advisors, searched several buildings for terrorists believed to be responsible for deadly Aug. 19 and Oct. 25 bombings in Baghdad. Although the targeted men were not captured, a suspected accomplice was arrested without incident.

In eastern Mosul yesterday, Iraqi soldiers and U.S. advisors searched several buildings with an arrest warrant for a man suspected of having close ties to key figures in the Islamic State of Iraq-sponsored Mosul extortion network. A suspected accomplice of the man was arrested without incident.

In Kirkuk on Oct. 26, a combined team of Iraqi police and soldiers and U.S. soldiers detained six people wanted on warrants for attacking security forces and private citizens in Tal al Raba in Kirkuk province. The team also discovered a weapons cache consisting of a 57 mm projectile, blasting caps and mortar charges.

Iraqi police and soldiers, working with U.S. advisors, arrested seven terrorism suspects in Iraq over the last two days, military officials reported.

Iraqi police captured a suspected Islamic State of Iraq terrorist group leader and three accomplices today in Bayji. Intelligence reports indicate he’s also involved with insurgent groups in Hawijah, officials said.

In eastern Mosul yesterday, Iraqi soldiers arrested three suspects while searching for Islamic State of Iraq extortion-network leaders.

The soldiers were continuing a series of searches focused on extortion-network leaders in Mosul who are believed to have close ties with al-Qaida in Iraq and are suspected of extorting profits from construction contractors and using the money to fund bombing attacks against civilians and Iraqi security forces.

Evidence at the scene linked the suspects with the wanted extortion-network leader, officials said.

Iraqi police, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested seven suspected terrorists today in northern Iraq, military officials reported.

Iraqi police, with U.S. advisors, arrested two suspects near Wajihijah, northeast of Baghdad, during an operation targeting a suspect believed to be associated with key members of al-Qaida in Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq terrorist group. The security team arrested the suspects based on evidence found at the scene.

In a separate operation near Bayji, southwest of Kirkuk, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors searched a building for a member of a vehicle-bomb network suspected of operating in Salahuddin and Kirkuk provinces. The security team questioned and arrested two suspicious people believed to be a threat to the local community.

Elsewhere, the Iraqi 3rd Emergency Response Unit, with U.S. advisors, searched two buildings for a Kirkuk vehicle-bomb network member near Hawijah, southwest of Kirkuk. The security team questioned and arrested three people suspected of participating in criminal activity.

Iraqi police from the Basra special weapons and tactics team, along with U.S. advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist commander yesterday in an Iraqi-led operation in southern Iraq, military officials reported.

The SWAT team was operating under the authority of a warrant issued by a Basra-based court.

The suspected terrorist commander of a Basra-based insurgent group is believed to be responsible for explosions and indirect-fire attacks in the area.

The man’s detainment may reduce the insurgent group’s ability to conduct attacks, Iraqi officials said.

Source: Department of Defense