Great News! 8 Al Qaeda in Iraq Killed, 17 Captured in Northern Iraq

Once again, the U.S. and coalition forces are doing a masterful job of finding al Qaeda in Iraq in even the most remote areas of Iraq. This operation happened in a remote area near Tuz ( hell, I hadn't even heard of the village/town of Tuz to this point) and from the article, this is what happened:

Intelligence confirmed the location of a targeted individual reported to be the al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – leader of a local village operating in a remote area of the Hamrin Mountains southwest of Tuz. The targeted individual and six other armed men were observed conducting suspicious activities in the area. Supporting fixed-wing aircraft were called to conduct an air strike, which killed all seven terrorists.

What the report doesn't say specifically is where the "intelligence" came from but I'd say it's a good bet that villagers in this area, sick and tired of the brutality of al Qaeda in Iraq, phoned in the tip. And that is the best sign of all - al Qaeda in the northern areas is being ratted out like they were in Al Anbar and in Baghdad. The one additonal al Qaeda killed was in a separate operation.

Hopefully, there will be a video up soon of this attack - nothing like sitting down to a morning coffee and watching seven al Qaeda in Iraq pukes turning into dust!

Here's the full story from Multi-National Force.

Coalition targets terrorist leaders, propaganda network; eight killed, 17 detained

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives and leaders Thursday, killing eight terrorists and detaining 17 suspects during ground operations and an air strike in northern Iraq.
Intelligence confirmed the location of a targeted individual reported to be the al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – leader of a local village operating in a remote area of the Hamrin Mountains southwest of Tuz. The targeted individual and six other armed men were observed conducting suspicious activities in the area. Supporting fixed-wing aircraft were called to conduct an air strike, which killed all seven terrorists.
Coalition forces continued to target the AQI propaganda network, after intelligence reports led a Coalition ground force to a building west of Samarra. When the ground force requested that occupants exit the targeted building, two men exited the building, but refused to follow Coalition forces’ instructions and demonstrated hostile intent. Subsequently, coalition forces engaged one man, killing him. The other man then complied and was detained with nine additional suspected terrorists.
Two operations in the Mosul area targeted associates of AQI leaders. A precision operation in the city yielded the capture of a suspected terrorist believed to be associated with AQI senior leaders in the area. Southwest of Mosul, Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists during an operation targeting associates of AQI senior leaders.
“A tough fight remains ahead, but Iraqi and Coalition forces are on the offensive, capturing or killing al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and members before they are able to conduct their brutal attacks against innocent Iraqis and the security forces that protect them,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman.