18 Qaeda suspects nabbed- MNF

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A total of 18 al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) suspects were detained during operations in different parts of central and northern Iraq, the Multi-National Force (MNF) said on Wednesday. “Coalition forces further degraded al-Qaeda in Iraq on Tuesday and Wednesday, detaining 18 suspects during operations targeting the terrorist group’s bombing and leadership networks,” read an MNF statement received by IraqiNews.com. “Coalition forces operation Tuesday in Qayarrah, about 60 km south of Mosul, captured one wanted man believed to be an AQI operative. Reports suggest the man was actively involved in planning a car bomb attack in Sharqat at the time of his capture. One additional suspect was detained for further questioning.” “Forces continued to target AQI bombing networks Wednesday. Two alleged Bayji-based improvised explosive device facilitators were captured near Hadithah, about 211 km northwest of Baghdad. One of the wanted men surrendered himself to Coalition forces during the operation. Four additional suspects were also detained. Another operation Wednesday in Baghdad netted two suspects believed to be associated with an AQI car bomb and IED operative in the city,” the statement added. “A wanted man assessed to be a Diyala AQI administrative operative and explosives facilitator was captured Wednesday in Tuz Khurmatu, about 70 km southeast of Kirkuk. The suspected terrorist, who reports suggest has connections to al-Qaeda operatives outside of Iraq, was detained with another man assessed to be his associate. Coalition forces partnered with Iraqi forces during a Tuesday operation targeting AQI military leaders near Hawijah, 60 km southwest of Kirkuk. The forces captured one suspected terrorist believed to have connections to a Tamim AQI leader. One additional man was detained for further questioning,” it noted. “Four suspects were detained by forces Wednesday near Ad Dawr, 136 km north of Baghdad, during an operation targeting a Sumarra-area terrorist cell leader,” according to the statement. SS (S)/SR 1