30 terrorists 'killed' in Sadr City raid
US forces have maintained a strong presence in Sadr City for months
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Wednesday, 08, Aug 2007 01:34
Coalition and Iraqi troops have killed 30 terrorists and detained 12 others after raids in Sadr City in Baghdad, the US military has said.
Those killed and detained are said to be members of a special groups terrorist cell linked to the transport of weapons from Iran to Iraq for use in the insurgency campaign.
They are also believed to have been involved in bringing militants into Iraq for training.
According to a statement released by the multinational forces in Iraq, the incident occurred after two armed men "in tactical fighting positions" who were believed to be lookouts for the suspected terrorist group were killed by ground forces.
Buildings targeted in the operation were then raided by coalition forces, resulting in the detention of 12 suspected terrorists after US and Iraqi forces came under small-arms fire.
"During the course of the operation, the assault force and the overhead aerial support observed a vehicle and large group of armed men on foot attempting an assault on the ground forces," a statement from the US military said.
"Responding appropriately to the threat of the organized terrorist force, close air support was called and engaged the terrorist vehicle and organized terrorist force, killing an estimated 30 terrorists."
Today's events come after similar raids in al-Amarah in June and the raid was targeting an insurgent leader who intelligence suggests "acts as a proxy between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force and the Iraqi EFP [explosively formed penetrators] network".
Multinational forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Garver said the latest raids showed that coalition forces "continue to gain momentum against the illicit movement of lethal materials from Iran".
"Iranian-supported militia extremists and terrorists are seeking to destroy the future of Iraq and we'll continue to capture or kill them and dismantle their organisations," he said.