MNFI Press Release - Sept 14

OPS DEGRADE AL-QAEDA ATTACK CAPABILITIES
Coalition forces captured three wanted men and detained five additional suspects during operations in central and northern Iraq targeting al-Qaeda (AQI) operations and attack cells on Saturday and Sunday. Two precision operations in the Baghdad area Sunday netted suspects wanted for their alleged roles in AQI attacks. A man captured in the city is reportedly a bombing-cell leader who procures explosives for attacks and helps foreign terrorists move into and around Baghdad. West of Abu Ghraib, Coalition forces captured a suspected weapons dealer. Intelligence reports indicate the man was conspiring with known terrorists to coordinate a suicide operation.

On Saturday, Coalition forces west of Kirkuk captured a wanted man believed to provide explosives to terrorist cells. The wanted man, who was detained with three associates, is also reportedly involved in propaganda production and distribution for AQI in the Kirkuk area. Also on Saturday, Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists northwest of Mosul during an operation targeting associates of AQI senior leaders.

INP, MND-B SOLDIERS SEIZE WEAPONS CACHES IN BAGHDAD
Iraqi National Police (INP) and MultiNational Division–Baghdad Soldiers seized weapons caches throughout Baghdad on Saturday, September 13th. At approximately 8 a.m., policemen with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, seized (18) grenades, (10) AK47s, (15) AK47 magazines with ammunition, and more than 1,700 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and eight load-bearing vests in the New Baghdad area of Baghdad. Later, at approximately noon, a local citizen turned in a 60 mm mortar round and a rocket-propelled grenade round to Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, who were conducting a dismounted patrol in the New Baghdad area of Baghdad. "The Iraqi Police, along with local citizens, continue to make a difference every day as they continue to remove these weapons from the streets of Baghdad," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman, MND-B and the 4th Inf. Div.

IA, MND-B SOLDIERS DETAIN SUSPECTED SPECIAL GROUPS LEADER
Iraqi Amry (IA) and MultiNational Division-Baghdad (MND-B) Soldiers detained a suspected Special Groups leader in Baghdad’s Rashid district on September 12th. At approximately 10:20 a.m., soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 53rd Brigade, 14th Iraqi Army Division, and Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B arrested a suspected Special Groups leader in the Jihad community. The suspect is responsible for an attack on Baghdad International Airport, on July 10th. "Coalition forces continue to pursue criminals in the Rashid district," said Lt. Col. Paul Hossenlopp, deputy commander, 1st BCT, 4th ID, MND-B.