Coalition Strikes al-Qaida Networks, Finds Weapons Caches

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 20, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 15 suspected terrorists and found two weapons caches in operations throughout Iraq in the last three days, military officials reported. Coalition forces detained 13 suspected terrorists in central Iraq today while targeting al-Qaida in Iraq operatives who facilitate terrorist operations and foreign fighters:

-- In Anbar province, coalition forces captured a wanted man and two additional suspects when they raided a tent camp in a remote area. The wanted man is suspected of involvement with al-Qaida in Iraq's facilitation network, moving foreign terrorists into Iraq.

-- In a separate operation, another suspected member of the network was captured with an associate in Baghdad. Information from an operation Aug. 17 helped coalition forces find the man, who allegedly is establishing a foreign terrorist facilitation hub in the capital.

-- A separate operation in Baghdad netted two suspected terrorists, one of whom allegedly is involved in supplying extremist propaganda materials and helping the foreign terrorist network.

-- Using information from a July 5 operation, coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists in Tikrit, about 160 kilometers north of Baghdad. One of the detainees is believed to directly conspire with a senior al-Qaida in Iraq leader who operates in Salahuddin and Ninevah provinces.

In other news, Iraqi National Police discovered a munitions cache yesterday in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. The cache contained seven 107 mm rockets, three 107 mm mortar rounds, 17 90 mm mortar rounds, 13 60 mm mortar rounds, six anti-armor grenades, an anti-personnel rocket-propelled grenade, a homemade bomb, 100 explosive fuses, about 200 rounds of ammunition, and a two-way radio charger.

In other operations, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers arrested two men and discovered weapons Aug. 18 and yesterday in southern Baghdad's Rashid district. At about noon Aug. 18 in the Saha neighborhood, Iraqi Police detained a suspected Iranian-backed "special groups" leader and turned him over to Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4th Infantry Division's 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

The man had a 9 mm pistol, a bullet-proof vest, an SMG magazine, multiple false identification cards and more than 190 pieces of anti-Iraqi propaganda. The patrol returned to a combat outpost with the suspect for further processing.

Soldiers from Company D also arrested a known criminal Aug. 18 in the Saha neighborhood. Acting on a tip, soldiers found an 82 mm mortar tube without a base plate.

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