NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
December 10, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-24
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TASK FORCE "ALL AMERICAN" CAPTURES SPANISH ATTACKERS
LUTAFIYAH, Iraq - At 2:00 am this morning, paratroopers from 3rd Brigade, 82d Airborne Division with the assistance of Iraqi police conducted Operation Panther Squeeze, a series of 18 raids in Lutafiyah to kill or capture individuals believed to be responsible for the attack against Spanish forces on November 29th. The cooperation efforts between the coalition forces and Iraqi police contributed to the great success of this operation.
During the raids, 15 primary targets were captured with a total of 41 enemy personnel taken for questioning. Those captured included the cell leader Abu Abdullah, an intelligence officer, financier, and a doctor who treated terrorists so they can avoid treatment at local hospitals, and the actual attackers.
A vehicle was also confiscated that may have been used in the recent assassination of the Lutafiyah Police Chief.
Since November 29th, we have been able to gather a significant amount of human intelligence in Lutafiyah. Intelligence collection in the area prior to the attack against the Spaniards was very difficult, but now there are indications that terrorist activities are no longer tolerable to the average citizen there.
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