U.S. Military Shows Its Might as Search for Missing Troops Continues

May 21, 2007 — -- As the search for the three missing soldiers in Iraq continues, the U.S. military showed its might Sunday by announcing it had killed Azhar al Duleimi, the man responsible for abducting and shooting four Americans in January.

Duleimi organized a raid on a U.S. compound in Karbala, U.S. officials say. On Friday, U.S. Special Forces tracked him down to a Baghdad neighborhood.

"We found him finally Friday morning. Went in on a precision operation to capture him. And in the pursuing engagement that occurred, he was killed," said Maj. Gen. William Caldwell.

Meanwhile, 4,000 U.S. troops continue to search an area 12 miles south of Baghdad for three soldiers missing since May 12. The military now thinks it knows who masterminded the attack -- a man they say is affiliated with al Qaeda in Iraq.

Soldiers have been searching day and night with little time for rest in the farmlands west of Mahmudiyah, an area infested with insurgents. In addition to roadside bombs, the search teams also have to contend with land mines that have been planted in the surrounding fields. Though the search is difficult and dangerous, the military is determined to show it will never give up on its missing comrades.

"You know, anybody who kidnaps an American soldier and murders them, we're going to continue to hunt down," Caldwell said.