Human bomb cell destroyed in Diyala

CNN:

U.S. troops raided a suspected suicide bomber cell Sunday, killing a dozen militants, half of whom had shaved their bodies -- which the U.S. military says indicates they were in the final stage of preparation for a suicide attack.

Troops came under fire while approaching a building in the volatile Diyala province, military spokesman Maj. Winfield Danielson said in an e-mail.

The troops returned fire, killing five men, before demanding that the remaining occupants exit the building. Some complied; others remained in the building, Danielson said.

The militants inside opened fire when U.S. troops stormed the building. Seven more militants were killed in the gunfight, Danielson said.

"Six of the terrorists killed had shaved their bodies, which is consistent with final preparation for suicide operations," he said.

Inside, troops found assault weapons, ammunition, grenades and vests like the ones suicide bombers use to conceal explosives.

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As the surge developed many of al Qaeda's forces retreated to Diyala province north of Baghdad. Many have since fled to Mosul, though obviously some remained behind. The good news is that we are getting good intelligence on their operations and our patrols are having a positive effect on limiting their ability to engage in mass murder for Allah. If we found sic with shaved bodies, it is a pretty good bet they were not prepping for a body building contest. The action very likely saved over a hundred Iraqi lives.