These criminals were part of a Special Groups cell supported by Iran. They were involved in kidnapping operations and other crimes against the Iraqi people and security forces, the Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I) said in a statement.
During the operation, Coalition forces were engaged with small arms fire and improvised explosive devices including at least one explosively formed penetrator, it said, adding that one individual was killed in the skirmish.
Precise fires from air support had to be used to engage individuals emplacing IEDs. These individuals were placing the explosives along the road to attack coalition forces departing the objective, the statement added.
