BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed ten terrorists, three of them wearing suicide vests, and wounded one at approximately 1:30 a.m. May 2 at a safe house located approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Balad while searching for an al-Qaida terrorist leader. 

 

Upon the troops’ arrival, one terrorist who was sleeping while on guard outside the safe house, woke up and attempted to engage the assault troops with a pistol. The terrorist was shot before he could fire his weapon.  As the wounded terrorist fell backward, he reached toward his chest and detonated a suicide vest.  None of the assault troops were harmed in the explosion. 

 

Meanwhile, the troops killed nine other terrorists, seven of whom exited the safe house during the fight and two who were killed inside.  Two of the nine terrorists were wearing suicide vests, but the troops killed these bombers before either could detonate his vest.

 

The terrorists possessed grenades, rifles, a pistol, ammunition, explosives, a machine gun and suicide vests.  The troops found $1000 in U.S. currency on one terrorist, and after the suicide bomber detonated his vest, they noticed hundreds of scattered pieces of charred U.S. bills. 

  

The safe house and all lethal material to include the two remaining suicide vests, grenades, weapons, explosives and blasting caps were destroyed.

The injured terrorist was medically evacuated to Balad for further medical care.

 

No civilians were located in or nearby this safe house.