L'armée américaine a indiqué avoir tué avant l'aube 26 "terroristes" et arrêté 17 suspects lors de deux raids visant des individus ayant "des liens étroits avec des réseaux terroristes iraniens" à Sadr City, le bastion chiite à Bagdad.
Et :
Les Etats-Unis affirment avoir éliminé l'un des leaders d'Al-Qaïda en Irak, qui avait participé aux combats sanglants à Fallouja en 2004. Abdel Rahman al-Masri, un Egyptien servant d'assistant à l'organisation terroriste, a été abattu vendredi entre Bagdad et Fallouja, selon l'armée américaine.  (Guysen.Israël.News)

Iraqi Special Operation Forces detain insurgent leader
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained a rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi insurgent leader during an operation in Nasiriyah, June 28.

During the operation, ISOF detained their primary suspect without incident and also detained five other suspicious individuals present during the operation.

The primary suspect is allegedly responsible for direct attacks on Coalition Forces, rocket attacks on Coalition bases and has been implicated in the kidnappings and murder of Iraqi citizens.  It is also believed he provides financial support to weapons trafficking networks which supply rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi units in the Baghdad area.

Coalition Forces served as advisors during the operation.  No ISOF or Coalition Soldiers were harmed in the operation.

Two Separate Raids Net 17 Suspected Secret Cell Terrorists; Approximately 26 Killed

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces conducted two separate raids targeting suspected secret cell terrorists during pre-dawn hours Saturday in Sadr City.  It is believed that the suspected terrorists have close ties to Iranian terror networks and are responsible for facilitating the flow of lethal aid into Iraq.

Coalition Forces encountered significant small arms fire and multiple improvised explosive device (IED) attacks during the operations.  Coalition Forces armored vehicles used proper escalation of force rules to engage four civilian vehicles.  Coalition Forces also received multiple attacks with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). Coalition Forces killed an estimated 26 terrorists and detained seventeen suspected secret cell terrorists during the two operations.

There were no Coalition Forces casualties during the operations.

“We remain committed to dismantling terror networks that seek to kill Coalition Forces, Iraqi Security Forces, and innocent Iraqis,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We will go after these terrorists wherever they are.”

June 30, 2007
Release A070630a

Another senior al-Qaeda leader identified, killed

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces positively identified a high-level terrorist killed in an operation June 29 east of Fallujah.

Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Masri, an Egyptian, was a known terrorist and senior leader in al-Qaeda.  Intelligence reports indicate he worked directly for Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the military emir of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and is associated with other al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders.

Intelligence reports further indicate he was assessed to be the current Shar’ia Emir of Radwaniyah, responsible for participating in terrorist courts and issuing fatwas.  Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Masri fought with Abu Ayyub al-Masri in Afghanistan in 2002 and 2003, and later came to Iraq with him.

Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Masri also fought in both battles of Fallujah, and was injured in one.  He was detained for six months, but upon his release, he relocated to Syria.  There, he began working with the network that facilitates the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq, and returned himself in late 2006.

While Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Masri stayed in Iraq, his associates traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan to personally discuss external planning with al-Qaeda senior leaders.

“Yet another foreign al-Qaeda terrorist has been removed from the al Qaeda network here in Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “This terrorist was a significant figure in the network and was only one step away from Abu Ayyub al-Masri.  Iraqis are safer without his presence.”