Special Forces, Iraqis net 80 al-Qaida suspects

[unhappycamper]

Special Forces, Iraqis net 80 al-Qaida suspects
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 13, 2007 5:23:55 EDT

BAGHDAD — A joint three-day operation between Iraqi troops and U.S. Special Forces netted 80 prisoners and killed three suspects in eastern Iraq, the U.S. military said Thursday.

Among those captured were four suspected al-Qaida in Iraq terror cell leaders, the military said in a statement.

The raids took place in the Hamrin Ridge and Diyala River Valley areas, and ended Wednesday, it said.

During the operation, enemy fighters attacked U.S. and Iraqi troops three times with small-arms and machine-gun fire, the military said. In one case, U.S. Special Forces called for backup from aircraft, which fired on the suspects and killed one, it said. In another engagement, Iraqi troops killed two suspects and wounded another with small-arms fire, the statement said.

The U.S. said Iraqi troops also seized 40 AK47 assault rifles and machine-gun ammunition. More than 1,000 Iraqi soldiers took part in the operation, it said.

Many of the suspects were accused of emplacing roadside bombs, the military said.



uhc comment: This replaces the folks we're going to release.