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More Lightning, More Hammer
Operation Lightning Hammer II has been launched in Iraq’s northern provinces. The offensive is aimed at al Qaeda’s network in Salahadin, Ninewa, Diyala, and Kirkuk provinces.
Operation Lightning Hammer II is a corps-sized operation, consisting of over 14,000 Iraqi Security Forces and 12,000 US troops. “Attack helicopters, close-air support, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Stryker Vehicles and tanks compliment the combined effort,” Multinational Forces Iraq reported.
The hammer fell immediately on more than 30 terrorists:
Six terrorists killed, 25 suspects detained, al-Qaeda network disrupted
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 25 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq’s operational networks in the Tigris River Valley and Kirkuk Thursday.
Coalition forces conducted two raids in and around Tarmiyah targeting senior members of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s network in the northern belts around Baghdad. During one raid, three armed men drew their weapons when the ground forces approached them. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces engaged the three armed men, killing them. As the ground forces continued to secure the area, they observed two men, one who was carrying a rifle, maneuvering into position against them. Coalition forces responded to the hostile threat, engaging and killing both.
During the second raid, a man drew his pistol on Coalition forces, who responded by engaging and killing the armed terrorist. Between the two raids, the ground forces detained seven suspected terrorists.
Farther north, Coalition forces used intelligence gained during operations Aug. 30 to capture a suspected close associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. The ground forces detained six additional suspected terrorists during the operations in Samarra and Tikrit.
Coalition forces captured a suspected member of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell near Baqubah believed to be responsible for bombing and ambush attacks on Coalition forces and Iraqi civilians. Intelligence reports indicate the cell member helped emplace snipers and illegal checkpoints used to kidnap civilians and hold them for ransom. Nine more individuals were detained for their alleged ties to the terrorist cell.
Iraqi and Coalition forces in Kirkuk detained one suspected terrorist during an operation targeting a car-bombing cell there.
“We want to cripple the al-Qaeda in Iraq network, so it is unable to plan and execute vicious attacks against the Iraqi people,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesman. “Each operation gives us better information with which to target and attack them.”