Mood:  celebratory

Troops disrupt operations, capture insurgents

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Farnsworth, a platoon sergeant with Company A, 325th Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, pulls security next to a Soldier from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division during a clearing operation in Baghdad’s Adhamiyah District Monday. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Pryor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs.

BAGHDAD -- Coalition forces detained a number of suspects and uncovered an enemy mortar system in Iraq during operations that ended Tuesday.

A local citizen tipped Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers to uncover a 60mm mortar system in Sadr City Sunday.

The local approached paratroopers from 82nd Airborne Division’s 325th Airborne Infantry regiment and told them the location of a mortar system he discovered in the back of a truck.

“We suspect this mortar system was used in attacks on Coalition outposts, based on the location and point of origin site in which it was found,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Oclander, the executive officer for the unit’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

“Risking his own personal security, this man took action to get weapons used by criminal militias off the streets,” Oclander said. “(This is) a great example of how Iraqi citizens are working to take action in securing their neighborhoods.”

Coalition forces conducted several other operations across Iraq.

In raids targeting al-Qaeda Tuesday morning, Coalition forces detained 18 suspected terrorists by using intelligence based off information gained from previous successful operations.

Coalition forces also raided four buildings associated with al-Qaeda northwest of Fallujah, rounding up an additional 13 suspected terrorists.

Military officials said the suspects have ties to a cell, which carries out car-bomb, sniper and mortar attacks against Coalition forces and Iraqi civilians.

In Mosul Tuesday, Coalition forces raided two buildings and detained two suspected terrorists, including an assistant to a senior terrorist leader who was captured May 29.

Coalition forces also captured suspected key al-Qaeda leaders in Rustafa, Taji and Termiyah, Tuesday morning.

“Our continuing operations are frustrating al-Qaeda in Iraq’s ability to operate,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman. “We are targeting them, detaining them, and in turn [they] are giving us information to disrupt the networks further.”

Coalition forces nabbed four suspected terrorists, including one suspected terror cell leader during raids in northeast Baghdad.

Military officials said the suspects are members of a secret terror cell responsible for moving explosively formed penetrators and other weapons to Iraq. The cell is believed to bring militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training.

“Coalition forces continue to break apart the terrorist networks that attempt to bring instability to Iraq and inflict continued violence on the Iraqi people,” Garver said.

The work of Iraqi citizens and Coalition troops has led to multiple arrests and the seizing of several weapons caches, disrupting operations and creating a safer environment for the people of Iraq.

(Compiled from Multi-National Force-Iraq and Multi-National Corps-Iraq news releases)

In other developments throughout Iraq:
• Coalition forces detained 18 suspected terrorists in raids targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq network Tuesday morning based on information gained from previous successful operations.

• Coalition and Iraqi forces captured a wanted insurgent during combat operations near the Karkh Oil Facility, northeast of Lutifiyah, Iraq June 1.

Multi-National Force - Iraq ** Troops disrupt operations, capture insurgents

Posted by yaahoo_ at 7:02 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 6 June 2007 7:05 PM EDT

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