Seven Terrorists Killed in Two Iraq Engagements

Coalition forces in Iraq killed seven terrorists today, five in a safe-house raid in Yusifiya and two who were planting a roadside bomb in Kirkuk province, military officials reported.

Early this morning, coalition troops killed five terrorists and
detained five suspects while searching for a wanted al Qaeda associate. Upon
arrival at the Yusifiyah hideout, the troops received small-arms fire.
They returned fire, assaulted the building and ultimately neutralized
the threat, officials said.

During the assault, five terrorists, three of them wearing suicide
vests, were killed; five others, one of whom was wounded, were detained.
Two of the suicide bombers were killed before either could detonate his
vest, and the third detonated his body bomb, killing only himself and
injuring no one else.

After the terrorists initiated hostilities, one woman died, and three
women and one child were injured. They were taken to the 10th Combat
Support Hospital in Baghdad. All four were reported to be walking under
their own power.

Coalition forces confirmed that one of the five men detained is the
wanted al Qaeda terrorist for whom the troops were searching. The
terrorist, whose name is being withheld, was involved in the planning and
execution of roadside bomb attacks and allegedly was associated with al
Qaeda foreign fighter operations. The other four suspects are being
assessed for knowledge of and involvement in terrorist activity.

The troops found four AK-47s, a pistol and several grenades at the safe
house. Explosives ordnance experts detonated the two remaining suicide
vests on-site. The enemy used most grenades, and one grenade was found
with the pin pulled, but not yet expended, in the hand of a dead
terrorist.

Five coalition members were injured during the raid, three of whom have
already been returned to duty. The other two were reported to be in
good condition and are expected to return to duty shortly, officials said.

Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, killed
two men planting roadside bombs just south of Hawijah in Kirkuk
province today.

Two OH-58D Kiowa helicopters engaged the men, killing both, when they
were seen planting a bomb, killing both. Ground troops from 1st BCT
found the IED after the attack and destroyed it.