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Operation Shuhada al-Midan leads to 23 arrests
![[Warrick Page/Getty Images] Several top Islamic State of Iraq leaders were arrested during the operation.](/cocoon/meii/images/2010/08/31/100831-feature-1-photoAP.jpg) [Warrick Page/Getty Images] Several top Islamic State of Iraq leaders were arrested during the operation. |
Iraqi security forces arrested 23 suspected members of the al-Qaeda front group Islamic State of Iraq in a number of areas south of Baghdad, security officials announced Sunday (August 29th).
The arrests were made during a security operation codenamed "Operation Shuhada al-Midan" carried out earlier this month.
"The Iraqi Army's al-Sukour intelligence cell carried out a security operation in the towns of al-Youssefiya, al-Latifiya, and al-Mahmoudia in the past few weeks after receiving accurate information and in co-operation with the anti-terrorism unit and residents of those towns," said Baghdad Operations Command spokesperson Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta.
Atta said some of the detainees were several prominent leaders of the Islamic State of Iraq, including "the emir of the southern sector Jaafar Alu, alias Abu Thabet; personal bodyguard of area wali Mohannad Naema, alias Abu Seif; operations official of southern Baghdad Nassir Rahim; explosives specialist Saddam Hussain al-Janabi; and administrative and financial official Hatim al-Anbari".
During the press conference, Atta displayed photos of a number of cell members who were arrested during the operation.
"This terrorist cell has been dismantled and arrested based on continuous intelligence efforts, especially by al-Sukour intelligence cell, which will start a new operation to crack down on the remnants of al-Qaeda in the next few days," he added.
Iraqi Ministry of Defence spokesman Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari said that Iraqi forces in Baghdad and the provinces "have started a comprehensive review of the security plans in order to start a new stage of eliminating the remnants of al-Qaeda cells that are trying to undermine the security situation through bombings here and there".
Al-Askari said that Operation Shuhada al-Midan came in response to the terrorist attacks that targeted the Iraqi Army recruiting centre in Bab al-Muazam in Baghdad.
He added that security forces obtained information indicating that terrorist groups were attempting to rearrange their ranks and carry out another attack soon. "However, the security forces do not have any option other than to achieve success and victory against the terrorist forces as soon as possible," he said.
According to Lt. Col. Saad al-Qaisi of the Iraqi Army's 6th Division, Iraqi security forces arrested 23 out of 31 suspects in the areas south of Baghdad, "while the rest fled to nearby areas".
"Work is under way around the clock to complete the arrests of the rest," al-Qaisi said. "The descriptions of terrorists, their names, and photos have been distributed to checkpoints, residential neighbourhoods, and markets," he said. "In addition, a financial reward has been earmarked to help in their arrest."
Al-Qaisi urged citizens to call a toll-free number (130) to pass on any tips they might have on the whereabouts of the fugitive terrorists to facilitate their arrest.
"Their arrest is only a matter of time," he said.
Reader Comments
I have information; how can I report it to the army? Is there a reward?
God have mercy on the heroic martyrs of Iraq and the Iraqi police.
It is known to everyone that any security action will be successful if it is carried out thoroughly and accurately, in terms of performance and the implementation of the duty. Moreover, the most important aspect in security work is intelligence, because it helps get access to accurate information, and therefore it puts the security forces carrying out the duties in full awareness of the task at hand and the elements that need to be arrested. This is what happened in the process of the Battlefield Martyrs, as it is named, in honor of the martyrs who died as a result of the brutal attack on one of the enlistment centers in Baghdad less than a month ago. The operation was launched by our security forces in southern Baghdad, to pursue the cells of the dirty terrorist organization that reside in those areas, and it resulted in the arrest of several elements of al-Qaeda. I think that the escalating intelligence effort throughout Iraq, and the great support and the positive role played by the citizens in reporting anomalies or suspected movements, in addition to the Iraqi forces’ insistence on eliminating terrorism in Iraq as soon as possible, all these factors contributed to improving the performance of the security forces and their success in many of the duties they have carried out, as in the most recent operation of the Battlefield Martyrs.
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