| WASHINGTON, July 7, 2006 – Iraqi army forces conducted an early morning raid today in eastern Baghdad, Iraqi police repelled a terrorist attack in Baghdad today, and coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained five during a raid yesterday, military officials reported.
The Iraqi army raid was part of Operation Together Forward, the Iraqi government's plan to improve security conditions in Baghdad.
Insurgents immediately engaged the forces, and a firefight ensued.
The purpose of the raid was to capture an insurgent leader responsible for numerous deaths of Iraqi citizens, officials said.
Police from 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st National Police Division, repelled an attack by an unknown number of terrorists at the Salman Pak Mosque and the National Police headquarters, which is located in the Salman Pak Hotel, today.
The terrorists conducted coordinated attacks on the sites with rocket propelled grenades and mortars.
During the attack, two local citizens were killed and four policemen were injured.
Terrorists reportedly fled into nearby palm groves after being repelled by the national police.
Witnesses said they observed boats waiting at the banks of the river.
Five of the alleged terrorists were captured and detained for questioning.
There is no reported damage to the hotel.
Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained five suspects yesterday during a raid near Baqubah.
Security forces were targeting a reported terrorist cell leader linked to multiple senior al Qaeda leaders throughout the region.
This and other recent operations in the Baqubah area are helping coalition forces get a clearer picture of the enemy network in the region, and how best to capture or eliminate them, officials said.
As troops prepared to assault the target, they engaged and killed two individuals taking up defensive positions against the ground forces.
Both individuals were armed with AK-47s when engaged.
Inside the building, five suspected terrorists were detained without incident.
The ground troops found several small arms weapons and accompanying ammunition.
The troops also located numerous terrorist documents and propaganda materials hidden in a compartment behind a loose cinderblock inside a wall.
The material included requests for weapons and documents outlining terrorist tactics.
Several women and children were present at the raid sites.
None were harmed and all were returned to their homes once the troops ensured the area was secure.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.) | 
