Coalition Forces in Iraq Round Up Suspects, Find Weapons

American Forces Press Service

Sept. 2, 2008 - Coalition forces captured four suspected members of the Shiite group Kataib Hezbollah and seized weapons caches in operations in Iraq yesterday and today, military officials reported. Kataib Hezbollah is reported to receive funding, logistics and weapons such as improvised rocket-assisted mortars from Iran. The group also is believed to receive guidance or direction from the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Based on intelligence information, coalition forces targeted an alleged Kataib Hezbollah financier this morning during an operation in Baghdad's Adhamiyah district. The wanted man is believed to be a key figure in the administration of the criminal group.

Coalition forces approached the wanted man's suspected location, where the residents allowed them into the building. The wanted man's wife and brother-in-law identified him, and he was taken into custody along with three suspected associates. In addition, troops found multiple weapons and more than $60,000 in American and Iranian currency at the residence.

Iraqi and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers continued seizing weapons caches in Baghdad yesterday and today.

Iraqi soldiers seized three high-explosive mortars in Baghdad's Sadr City district yesterday. Soldiers serving with the 4th Infantry Division's Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, seized a weapons cache in Baghdad's East Rashid district. The cache contained 300 7.62 rounds, three fuses and half a block of C4 explosive.

Soldiers serving with the 25th Infantry Division's Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, found a weapons cache northwest of Baghdad that included 31 82 mm high-explosive projectiles, an 82 mm white phosphorous projectile and 150 12.7 mm anti-personnel small-arms projectiles.

In other operations yesterday:

-- Two al-Qaida in Iraq members were detained in Mosul for planning a bomb attack. During a patrol that lead to a search of a bakery near Provincial Hall, coalition soldiers detained two al-Qaida members who tested positive for explosives. The soldiers were acting on a report regarding a planned bomb attack against Provincial Hall by way of a tunnel system.

-- In Baghdad, coalition forces weakened an al-Qaida in Iraq bombing cell when they detained four suspected members, including the alleged leader. Another of the four detainees is assessed to be his second-in-command.

-- Coalition forces captured an alleged leader within the al-Qaida in Iraq network in Mosul and two suspected associates. A second operation in Mosul targeted weapons facilitators and foreign terrorists who operate in Diyala province, and netted four suspects.

-- About 160 km south of Mosul in Beiji, coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists during an operation to disrupt a bomb-making cell.

-- Coalition forces captured two suspected members of Asaib al Haq during an operation in Rumaythah, about 200 kilometers southeast of Baghdad in Iraq's Muthanna province. Asaib al Haq is a faction that broke away from Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia in opposition to Sadr's cease-fire order and reconciliation with the Iraqi government. Intelligence tips led forces to men believed to be associated with the senior commander of all Asaib al Haq in Iraq.

In operations Aug. 31:

-- Coalition forces captured a wanted man believed to be part of the foreign terrorist network that helps al-Qaida in Iraq operatives transit into and around Iraq. The network is known to supply bombers for attacks against Iraqi civilians and security forces.

-- Iraqi soldiers discovered a weapons cache in Baghdad's Sadr City district. The weapons included 10 40 mm grenades, eight 85 mm PG-18 rockets, four rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 17 charges, a 64 mm heat rocket, 11 hand grenades of various types, five grenade fuses, a mortar fuse and various bomb-making materials.

In operations Aug. 30:

-- Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist in southern Baghdad's Rashid district. Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's Company C, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, detained the suspect, who is believed to be connected to a car bomb.

-- Iraqi special operations forces captured a man said to be the leader of a cell operating out of Haydariyah. The suspect allegedly conducts attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces in the region and is believed to be collecting and storing improvised explosive devices and other weapons for future criminal operations.

-- Iraqi police in Numaniyah, about 111 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, uncovered a weapons cache consisting of more than 1,000 various types of high-explosive projectiles.

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