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TARMIYAH, Iraq – Coalition forces, acting swiftly on tips from concerned local citizens, captured a key al-Qaida in Iraq leader during a raid in Tarmiyah, Iraq, Oct. 11.
"There's a direct cause and effect here," said Lt. Col. Bill Prior, commander, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. "(The concerned local citizen) doesn't have to worry about Sa'dun terrorizing him anymore. Sa'dun was influencing and intimidating the local people, and they lived in fear for so long, but they don't have to deal with that intimidation anymore."
Fu'ad Sa'dun, an al-Qaida emir, is suspected to have coordinated the kidnapping and murder of local citizens, rocket and small -rms attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces and locals, and improvised explosive device emplacement, before being captured by Soldiers from 4-9th Inf., 4-2 SBCT.
According to tips received, Sa'dun murdered Sheik Ali Slubhi, an influential leader in Rowad who was working with coalition forces to bring an "awakening" to that city. On Oct. 9, Slubhi was murdered in his home. His wife was injured in the attack.
Sa'dun allegedly operated in and around the Iraqi cities of Rowad, Mushahida and Tarmiyah.
Lt. Col. Bill Prior, 4-9 Inf. commander, said the number of IED attacks in his battalion's battle space has significantly decreased since Sa'dun's capture.
"This is the first time since we have been here (April 2007) that we have not had a significant (enemy) act in 5 days," Prior said. "(Sa'dun) was a thug, murderer and terrorist, and his capture has had a big impact on the enemy's ability to attack us. Operations of this type are critical to protecting the people of this area and allowing them to make progress in their lives."
Prior noted that the discovery of a large mortar cache on Oct. 14 was also directly linked to the capture. A concerned local citizen tipped coalition forces to the cache's location, after hearing of Sa'dun's arrest.
An awakening, or sahwah in Arabic, is the term used by concerned local citizens and coalition forces to describe the process of Iraqis putting aside their sectarian and tribal differences to provide for their own peace and security.
A successful awakening is currently taking place in Tarmiyah, a former al-Qaida safe haven. Thousands of Tarmiyah residents, who previously were too fearful to work with coalition forces, now work closely with CF to keep al-Qaida out of the city.
Prior said an awakening is also beginning in Rowad.
| Date Taken: | 10.18.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.18.2007 00:37 |
| Story ID: | 13081 |
| Location: | TARMIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 726 |
| Downloads: | 713 |
This work, Tips lead to al-Qaida leader's capture, awakening continues, by SSG Russell Bassett, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
