At least 35 detained in joint Iraqi-US operations in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) – Iraqi special forces backed by U.S. troops raided houses in Baghdad on Friday and detained at least 35 suspected insurgents, police said. The operation began at about 6 a.m. and was being conducted in several southwestern Baghdad neighborhoods, with security forces searchi

Asharq Al-Awsat Editorial 27 January 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) – Iraqi special forces backed by U.S. troops raided houses in Baghdad on Friday and detained at least 35 suspected insurgents, police said.

The operation began at about 6 a.m. and was being conducted in several southwestern Baghdad neighborhoods, with security forces searching homes, stopping cars at checkpoints and frisking people, said Maj. Falah al-Mohammedawi.

It was not immediately clear why the operation was launched, but there has been a large number ambushes and drive-by killings in this sector of Baghdad during the past week.