IRAQ: UNITED STATES TROOPS ARREST 54 SUSPECTED GUERRILLAS BUT MISS CATCHING SECOND MOST WANTED MAN
Record ID:
338333
IRAQ: UNITED STATES TROOPS ARREST 54 SUSPECTED GUERRILLAS BUT MISS CATCHING SECOND MOST WANTED MAN
- Title: IRAQ: UNITED STATES TROOPS ARREST 54 SUSPECTED GUERRILLAS BUT MISS CATCHING SECOND MOST WANTED MAN
- Date: 5th December 2003
- Summary: (EU) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (DECEMBER 3, 2003)(REUTERS) 1. SLV NEWS CONFERENCE 0.06 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S MILITARY SPOKESMAN BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT SAYING "I think your specific question is going to the question "did we target or were we going after al-Douri?" We did not capture al-Douri yesterday. With regards to the operations we typically don't reveal operational details or specifics." 0.21 3. WIDE OF BRIEFING 0.26 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. MILITARY SPOKESMAN BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT SAYING "Over the last seven days there has been an average of 19 engagement per day against coalition military, two attacks on Iraqi security forces and two attacks on Iraqis and other neutral civilians. While this trendline is below recent norms, the coalition remains offensively oriented and will continue intelligence-based operations to kill or capture anti-coalition and anti-Iraqi elements attempting to obstruct a safe and secure environment in Iraq. In the past 24 hours the coalition conducted 1658 patrols, 22 raids and captured 115 anti-coalition suspects. In the southeast multinational division forces conducted 240 patrols, two raids that detained 25 persons in the past 24 hours. Four people with Iranian paperwork, one a confirmed citizen, were captured when coalition soldiers discovered numerous arms and weapons in a mini bus that were stopped at a checkpoint in Basra yesterday. Among the weapons seized were several rocket propelled rocket launchers and rifles. 1.36 5. SLV NEWS CONFERENCE 1.41 (U4) RIYADH VILLAGE, 53 KM NORTH OF KIRKUK, IRAQ (DECEMBER 3, 2003) (REUTERS) 6. SLV U.S. TANKS BLOCKING ROADS NEAR RIYADH VILLAGE; SLV PEOPLE GATHERING ON A ROAD LEADING TO THE VILLAGE / A U.S. SOLDIER SEARCHING PEOPLE AND PUSHING OTHERS BACK; MV WOMAN TALKING WITH AN AMERICAN SOLDIER IN ARABIC AND SAYING: "I want to go to see my children and my house." 2.14 7. SLV VILLAGERS WALKING ALONG ROAD; SLV SOLDIERS ALONGSIDE TRAFFIC; SLV U.S. TANKS BLOCKING ROAD; SLV U.S. SOLDIERS SEARCHING A FARM (6 SHOTS) 2.51 8. SLV PEOPLE ON ROAD; SLV U.S. MILITARY VEHICLES ENTERING THE VILLAGE/CIVILIAN ONLOOKERS; SLV PEOPLE ON ROAD 2.57 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th December 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: RIYADH VILLAGE, NEAR HAWIJA AND BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA433HUHNDNCCXNA1NM8LDSUKS3
- Story Text: U.S. troops arrest 54 suspected guerrillas but miss
catching the second most wanted man in Iraq after Saddam.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday (December 3, 2003)
that troops apprehended "quality targets" among 54
suspected guerrillas seized near Kirkuk but probably just
missed catching the second most wanted man in Iraq after
Saddam Hussein.
More than 1,000 soldiers raided the small town of
Hawija near the northern oil hub Tuesday but failed to find
Saddam's right-hand man, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri. Soldiers
detained but later released a relative of Ibrahim after the
raid which lasted almost 48 hours.
In a statement, the U.S. military said 54 people had
been detained and one "enemy" was killed and two wounded.
There were no U.S. casualties. A cache of weapons was also
seized.
Military spokesman Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt told
a Baghdad news conference U.S. troops had failed to capture
al-Douri.
"I think your specific question is going to the
question "did we target or were we going after al-Douri?"
We did not capture al-Douri yesterday. With regards to the
operations we typically don't reveal operational details or
specifics."
Kimmit said U.S. troops had conducted extensive
operations all over the country.
"Over the last seven days there has been an average of
19 engagement per day against coalition military, two
attacks on Iraqi security forces and two attacks on Iraqis
and other neutral civilians. While this trendline is below
recent norms, the coalition remains offensively oriented
and will continue intelligence-based operations to kill or
capture anti-coalition and anti-Iraqi elements attempting
to obstruct a safe and secure environment in Iraq. In the
past 24 hours the coalition conducted 1658 patrols, 22
raids and captured 115 anti-coalition suspects. In the
southeast multinational division forces conducted 240
patrols, two raids that detained 25 persons in the past 24
hours. Four people with Iranian paperwork, one a confirmed
citizen, were captured when coalition soldiers discovered
numerous arms and weapons in a mini bus that were stopped
at a checkpoint in Basra yesterday. Among the weapons
seized were several rocket propelled rocket launchers and
rifles," he told journalists.
Heavily armed U.S. forces with armoured vehicles and
tanks sealed off the road to Riyadh village, three
kilometres to the north of Hawija on Wednesday (December 3)
as part of ongoing operations.
More than 1,000 U.S. soldiers raided the small town of
Hawija on Tuesday, but failed to find ousted Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein's right-hand man, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri.
Two U.S. tanks blocked the road to Riyadh village on
Wednesday and soldiers prevented villagers from entering
the village. U.S. soldiers with assault rifles ordered
people back, pushing them away from the road, while others
carried out body searches.
Iraqi police, which were also at the scene were denied
access to the cordoned village. Troops searched a farm in
the village, while the villagers were obliged to use a side
road to get home.
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