Posted on 08/17/2007 3:11:34 PM PDT by lowbridge
U.S. captures 'high-priority' Iran officer in Baghdad
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has reported the capture of a senior officer of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps stationed in Baghdad.
U.S. forces, which are taking aim at key Iranian officers based in Iraq, conducted a raid that nabbed the officer of the IRGC's Quds Force and killed three of his aides.
"Coalition troops continue to target terrorists who bring weapons and explosives, especially explosively formed penetrators, and other aid into Iraq," U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said. "Coalition forces will continue their focused operations against unhelpful Iranian influence interfering in Iraq."
Officials said IRGC has become a major U.S. target, particularly in the Baghdad area.
"The captured high-priority individual was responsible for smuggling explosively formed penetrators, Katyusha rockets and other weapons from Iran into Iraq," an official said. "The target was also responsible for distributing those weapons to special groups and extremist militants operating throughout Baghdad. The weapons smuggler had direct ties to senior militant leaders and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force."
A military statement said nine gunmen were killed in a series of raids in Iraq. The statement said the detained IRGC officer facilitated the flow of weapons from Iran to Iraq and their distribution to Shi'ite and other militias.
Officials said five others were arrested during the raid. They said Iranian officers were transferring weapons and finances to a range of militias in an effort to force a U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq.
U.S. military spokesman Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner said insurgents have received Iranian 240 mm rockets for attacks against the U.S.-led coalition. Bergner said U.S. forces recovered some of the 240 mm rockets in the Ninveh province on Aug. 14.
"The 240 mm rocket is a large-caliber projectile that has been provided to militia extremists groups in the past along with a range of other weapons from Iranian sources," Bergner said.
The Bush administration plans to designate IRGC a terrorist group. The Quds Force was said to be responsible for liasion with and assistance to a range of Middle East insurgency groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hizbullah.
The army also reported the killing of six Al Qaida insurgents and the detention of another 26 fighters in operations east of Balad. U.S. and Iraqi combat units also found a cache of weapons and bombs in an Al Qaida stronghold.
"Terrorists cannot conceal themselves in small villages, disrupting the lives of Iraqi citizens," Garver said. "There was no safe havens for terrorists here, as operations will continue to seek them wherever they hide."
I’d pay to see that.
Ain’t nuthin humble about nuclear weapons...
Let’s hope he had a laptop and cell phone ...
A nice South Asian bloc of Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan would make a lot of sense.
If they ain’t in uniform, hang ‘em.
But, whether they are in uniform or not, their presence and their activities are an act of war against the United States.
Anyone who claims otherwise is walking on the graves of every American who has died at their hands.
We are 28 years overdue for declaring war.
It’s because of gutless responses like yours that these terrorists are so bold. Take off your skirt, gets some gonads and just pretend you’re a man.....by the by, where did you get it that this is a “so-called” terrorist. He is a leader of known terrorists......so what camp does this put you in Sahib?
Get this guy on T.V.
Use him, Humiliate him.Force him to make the statements!
.Then whisk him off "interrogate" him until he spills everything and has no idea who he even is anymore.......then let him slip in shower, and mail him home.
Of course it is......it causes the country it lands on to become humbled.
Looks like John Edwards has found his newest client to defend.
Wasn't this reported several days ago?
Violence is no way to treat prisoners. Even the Iranian deserves to be coddled with movies and posters for their jailcells.
Like non-stop Brittney or Paris. Or even better. Loving portraits of Helen Thomas.
I bet they sing long and loud, and real fast.
According to the website, this is "breaking" news and dated today, August 17, 2007.
Stupid is forever...hope you have constant supervision by an adult!
Stupid is forever...hope you have constant supervision by an adult!
Point of order.... was the sob captued before or after the designation of the Revolutionary gaurd as a terrorist group?
Was the designation made with the knowledge of his capture or of his impending capture?
He is a terrorist and not an insurgent. The lawyers can’t whine about militry justice when he gets the treatment given Al Queda types and produced mucho info.
I am not now and never have been associated with the individual called Dan bert
A little over the top yes. But still. Troll much?
What an awesome war prize!
Nice capture, gentlemen.
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