Troops in Iraq Detain 17 Suspects, Seize Weapons

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 6, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi forces caught 17 suspects and seized scores of weapons during operations in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said. In the Rashid district of southern Baghdad today, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained three individuals allegedly responsible for emplacing roadside bombs, military officials said. The suspects were taken to a coalition forces base for processing.

Elsewhere in Iraq today:

-- Iraqi and coalition forces near Hawijah captured three suspects, including a wanted man who allegedly conspires with an al-Qaida in Iraq regional leader.

-- Coalition troops caught two suspected terrorists in Sharqat. One suspect was injured during the operation, and was treated by coalition forces medics, military officials said.

-- Combined forces detained a suspected terrorist during an operation in Khanaqin targeting a foreign terrorist facilitator involved in suicide bombings.

During operations in Iraq yesterday:

-- Coalition forces captured a wanted man and two additional suspected terrorists during an operation to further disrupt the al-Qaida in Iraq foreign terrorist network. Intelligence reports indicate the wanted man is well connected to international terrorists, military officials said.

-- Coalition troops near Khanaqin nabbed a wanted man with suspected ties to a recently detained regional al-Qaida in Iraq leader.

-- Combined forces uncovered caches containing assault rifles, explosive materials and other types of weaponry in the Sadr City, Adhamiyah and Mansour districts of Baghdad.

In an Aug. 4 operation in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained four key suspects, military officials said. Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, detained the four suspected al-Qaida in Iraq members during a late-night raid in the Aamel community.

Also in Iraq on Aug. 4, combined forces seized four weapons caches around Baghdad. The stockpiles contained homemade bombs, rockets, mortar rounds, and other weapons and military equipment.

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