Coalition Forces in Iraq Detain 30 Suspected Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

July 10, 2008 - Coalition forces in Iraq detained 30 suspected terrorists during anti al-Qaida operations conducted over the past three days across central and northern Iraq, military officials said.
In today's operations:

-- Coalition forces operating in the Tigris River Valley captured an alleged al-Qaida leader linked to a bombing network. Nine other suspected terrorists also were detained.

-- In operations near Tikrit, coalition forces captured a wanted man suspected of forging documents for foreign terrorists and coordinating suicide operations targeting security forces and civilians. One additional suspect was detained in the operation. Coalition forces also seized a machine gun, body armor and bomb-making materials.

-- Near Beiji, coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists while targeting a man believed to provide shelter to foreign terrorists who come into Iraq to conduct attacks.

-- In Fallujah, coalition forces captured an alleged cell leader believed to be involved with al-Qaida in Iraq operations. The man is suspected of manufacturing and distributing car bombs for terrorist attacks.

-- Coalition forces operating in Mosul detained four suspected terrorists in a three-day operation that ended today.

In yesterday's operations:

-- Coalition forces near Baghdad detained four suspected terrorists while targeting a car-bombing cell.

-- Near Fallujah, coalition forces captured an alleged close associate of a bombing cell leader and four additional suspects.

-- In Mosul, Iraqi commandos detained a suspected cell leader and nine other members of the Islamic State of Iraq, a front organization for al-Qaeda in Iraq.

In July 8 operations:

-- U.S. soldiers seized several weapons caches during anti-insurgent operations conducted in and around Baghdad. The caches contained a 120 mm mortar, 15 empty 82 mm mortars, 2 pounds of explosives, blasting caps, a 130 mm mortar round, 293 AK-47 rifles, 24 other-type rifles, nine insignia connected with Iranian-backed "special groups," an improvised explosive device, a 120 mm mortar round, two 60 mm mortar rounds, seven artillery rounds, nine propane tanks, rifle grenades, hand grenades and an assortment of other rifles and pistols.

-- U.S. soldiers detained a suspected criminal during an operation in the Karadah security district in eastern Baghdad. The detainee is linked to an Iranian-backed network that's suspected of committing kidnappings, murders and attacks against coalition forces and Iraqi officials.

-- Iraqi commandos in Baghdad detained three suspected members of an Iranian-backed group linked to attacks against innocent Iraqis and coalition forces.

-- Also in Baghdad, another Iraqi anti-terrorist unit detained a suspected special groups leader. The detainee is a member of the Iraqi Facilities Protection Service and is suspected of using his position to carry out assassinations, kidnappings, extortion and intimidation.

In other news, an Iraqi anti-terrorist unit detained a suspected Iranian-backed terrorist linked to roadside bombings during an operation in Kut on July 7.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)