Iraqis Arrest Terrorism Suspects

American Forces Press Service

March 18, 2010 - Iraqi forces arrested suspected al-Qaida in Iraq and Kataib Hezbollah terrorists today during three operations with U.S. advisors.

The operations were conducted in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq security agreement and in coordination with the Iraqi government, U.S. Forces Iraq officials said.

Iraqi forces with U.S. advisors today arrested a man believed to be an associate of a suspected Kataib Hezbollah brigade leader they were seeking on a warrant in northern Baghdad. The brigade leader is believed to be responsible for carrying out attacks against security forces.

In western Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member who is planning upcoming attacks against Iraqi government officials, officials said, citing credible intelligence.

Following preliminary questioning and an initial examination of the evidence at the scene, the Iraqi forces identified and arrested the wanted attack planner and two suspected criminal associates.

In a separate operation in a rural area southwest of Kirkuk, an Iraqi emergency response unit and U.S. advisors searched several buildings for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader who is believed to have coordinated attacks throughout the country and to have recruited foreign terrorists from Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Information and evidence gathered at the scene led Iraqi police to arrest a suspected criminal associate of the warranted man.

(Compiled from U.S. Forces Iraq news releases.)