Basra security forces nab 180 suspects in large raid operation

BASRA/IraqiNews.com: Iraqi security forces on Tuesday arrested 180 suspects and seized quantities of weapons in Basra, a police source said. “A joint army and police forces conducted a large-scale operation in Basra, capturing 44 suspecting including a Pakistani entered Iraq illegally through Safwan border road, 60 km west Basra,” The Media office for Basra police told IraqiNews.com. “Forces nabbed 136 suspects in different parts of Basra,”the source added Basra media office highlighted the forces “seized three rockets with wires prepared for launching in al-Zubair district, 35 km west Basra along with 120mm-claibre mortar rounds and three pistols”. “24 vehicles and 26 motorcycles without official papers were captured,” the source added. Basra, Iraq’s main getaway for the Gulf, 590 km south Baghdad, was the scene of high-pitched battles between government forces and militiamen loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The clashes erupted in March-April following the announcement of a major crackdown dubbed Saulat al-Fursan (The Knights’ Assault) against gunmen in Basra. AM(S) 1