Five Iranians Detained in Recent Baghdad Raids

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Dec. 27, 2006 – Several Iranian nationals were detained in recent coalition raids conducted in Iraq's capital city, a senior U.S. military officer said in Baghdad today. Two Iranians were among eight other suspects detained during a coalition raid at a Baghdad site Dec. 21, Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, told reporters.

The early-morning operation was based on intelligence information, Caldwell said, noting documents, maps, photographs, and videos were also confiscated.

"Debriefings of these detainees and investigation of the seized materials have yielded intelligence that link perhaps some of them to some illegal activities that have occurred," Caldwell said. The investigation is still ongoing, he said.

The 10 detainees are still in the custody of Multinational Force Iraq, Caldwell said, noting U.S. officials remain in contact with the Iraqi government regarding the matter.

In another operation, three Iranian nationals and one Iraqi were detained during a vehicle search by coalition forces that took place in the early evening in Baghdad Dec. 20, Caldwell said.

The four detainees have since been transferred to the custody of the Iraqi government, Caldwell said.

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