Tens of alqaeda members killed or captured in two different operations.
Iraqi security forces backed by attack helicopters killed 10 al-Qaeda leaders and captured seven others during a security operation in western Anbar province, officials announced Friday (January 18th).
"The armed clashes occurred in the Makr al-Theeb area, south of al-Rutbah district in western Anbar, and resulted in the killing of 10 senior commanders and leaders of the terrorist al-Qaeda organization, and the arrest of seven others," he said.
"Ten 4x4 vehicles -- which [the suspects] used to flee from the Iraqi forces -- were destroyed, and light and medium weapons found in the gunmen's camp were seized," he added. "The camp also was destroyed by Iraqi forces after the end of the operation by bombing it using the combat helicopters."
A statement released by the defense ministry at the time said that the camp included vehicles upon which anti-aircraft machine guns were mounted and explosives-laden tires used in car bombings, and that the inspection of the camp led to the discovery of a large factory nearby, where IEDs are made.
The two al-Qaeda camps in the Horan Valley — in the province of Anbar and in al-Jazira in Mosul — include service buildings with residential quarters, kitchens and meeting and training halls.
Read more:
Iraqi Forces Confront Al-Qaeda Militants - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Qaeda leaders in Anbar killed, captured | Mawtani
a few soldiers and police injured in the firefight, fortunately no deaths.