BAGHDAD, Iraq (Jan 16, 2008) — Coalition forces captured a suspected criminal network facilitator early Thursday during operations to disrupt criminal element networks in the Baghdad area.
The targeted individual reportedly trained criminals to perform attacks on Coalition and Iraqi forces. He allegedly facilitated the training of numerous criminals in guerilla warfare. The wanted individual was also reported to be an associate of several other senior-level criminal element leaders who were involved in attacks on Coalition forces.
Intelligence led ground forces to the target location where they captured the wanted individual without incident.
"There has been substantial progress in the fight for a stable Iraq, but there is still a great deal of work ahead," said Lt. Patrick Evans, MNF-I spokesman. "We commend all those who honor al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr’s cease fire pledge, and we’ll work with them to provide security in their neighborhoods, but we will also continue to pursue those criminal elements that do not honor al-Sadr’s pledge."
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