Iraqi security forces arrested 10 terrorism suspects in recent operations in Iraq with U.S. advisors, military officials reported.

In southern Baghdad yesterday, Iraqi forces searched with U.S. advisors for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader who is believed to be involved in high-profile vehicle-borne bomb attacks and to have ties to the terror group’s senior leadership. They arrested two suspected criminal associates of the wanted man.

Also yesterday, Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors in eastern Mosul arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member with ties to the group’s senior leadership, along with two suspected criminal associates.

On June 19, Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors in Mosul stopped a vehicle while searching for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member with ties to the group’s senior leaders. They arrested three suspected criminal associates of the wanted man.

In another June 19 operation east of Baghdad, Iraqi forces arrested two suspected al-Qaida in Iraq criminal associates while searching for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member allegedly responsible for attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces.

Iraqi forces arrested 11 terrorism suspects in recent operations conducted with U.S. advisors, military officials reported.

South of Baghdad yesterday, Iraqi forces arrested four suspected al-Qaida in Iraq criminal associates during a combined operation in search of a man who allegedly is involved in bomb attacks against Iraqi civilians and Iraqi and coalition forces.

In Mosul on May 17, Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader and three suspected criminal associates. The suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader is believed to have played a key role in acquiring vehicles and weapons used to carry out assassinations.

Three other suspected criminal associates of the al-Qaida in Iraq leader were captured in Mosul the next day.

Iraqi security forces working with U.S. advisors arrested three terrorism suspects, and a tip led to discovery of an enemy weapons stockpile in recent operations in Iraq.

Iraqi forces arrested two suspected terrorists today during a combined operation conducted in western Baghdad targeting the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist group to hinder planned attacks preceding the country’s upcoming election.

Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a building for the suspected leader of an al-Qaida in Iraq group believed to be responsible for conducting high-profile attacks and robberies in Baghdad. Following preliminary questioning and examination of the evidence at the scene, Iraqi forces arrested two suspected criminal associates of the wanted man.

In Iraq’s Salahuddin province Feb. 28, Iraqi forces with U.S. advisors arrested a suspected cell leader of the Islamic State of Iraq terrorist group in Beiji.

Iraqi officials believe the suspect is responsible for financing and supporting terrorist operations and housing foreign fighters in the province.

Intelligence reports also indicate the individual allegedly is connected to an assassination and kidnapping cell, and that he personally beheaded several victims, officials said. An Iraqi court issued a warrant for the suspect’s arrest.

In Tarmiyah on Feb. 26, information from a concerned Iraqi civilian led to Iraqi forces discovering four enemy weapons caches.

Acting on a tip about possible homemade explosives being stored for use during the March 7 elections, Iraqi forces coordinated with U.S. forces in searching for possible caches in the area. The tip proved accurate when Iraqi forces located four separate caches yielding multiple types of weapons. The first cache uncovered 10 bags of homemade explosives. Each bag contained 50 to 70 pounds of explosives with detonation cords attached.

Shortly after removing the explosives from the first cache, the Iraqi forces discovered a second cache that included three barrels with eight 57 mm mortars inside and an additional 38 mortars underneath. Also found were 25 30 mm grenades, a 75 mm artillery round, five 90 mm artillery rounds, more than 50 artillery and rocket base caps and nine top halves of 120 mm shells.

After removing the contents of the second cache, Iraqi forces continued the search, finding a third cache containing two rocket-propelled grenade launchers. A 57 mm mortar tube with the base plate was found at a fourth site.

Iraqi security forces collected all of the contents from the searches and took them to a secure area, where an explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed them.

Iraqi security forces arrested three suspected terrorists Feb. 26 during two operations here and in northern Iraq aimed at preventing attacks designed to disrupt the upcoming national elections.

In western Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected leader of a terrorist group that provides support and assistance to al-Qaida in Iraq by carrying out attacks and assassinations.

Following preliminary questioning and collection of evidence at the scene, Iraqi forces identified and arrested the wanted man and a suspected criminal accomplice.

In a separate operation conducted in a rural area southeast of Kirkuk, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched several buildings for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member who carries out bombing attacks throughout the Tigris River Valley.

Information gathered during the operation led Iraqi police to arrest a suspected criminal associate of the wanted man.

Apparently the news media last week jumped the gun by announcing the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other 9-11 terrorism suspects would not be tried in federal court in Manhattan. President Barack Obama said during an interview televised on CBS News on Sunday that he had not ruled out holding the trials in New York City, but he acknowledged that there are logistical issues and local opposition that makes such a high profile court proceeding difficult.

Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, in recent days arrested 20 people suspected of terrorist activities in Iraq, military officials reported.

Iraqi soldiers today arrested a suspected terrorist during a combined security operation in northeastern Baghdad targeting a suspected member of a Kataib Hezbollah terrorist network cell.

Iraqi soldiers and U.S. advisors acted upon a court-issued warrant to search two buildings for a suspected Kataib Hezbollah member wanted for rocket and mortar attacks in the capital city. Evidence discovered at the scene led the soldiers to arrest a suspected criminal associate of the warranted man.

Yesterday, Iraqi police arrested three suspected terrorists during a combined security operation targeting a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq bomb-cell member about 15 miles south of Mosul.

Acting on a court-issued warrant, the police and U.S. advisors searched several buildings for the suspected terrorist, who’s wanted for staging deadly vehicle-borne bomb attacks against security forces in Mosul.

After questioning people and assessing evidence at the scene, the police arrested three suspected criminal associates of the warranted al-Qaida in Iraq member.

On Jan. 10, Iraqi forces arrested 11 suspected terrorists during three combined operations in Baghdad and northern Iraq to arrest several suspected members of al-Qaida in Iraq.

In southeastern Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a home for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member who works directly for the leadership of the terrorist group and maintains a network of safe houses for other terrorists in the area.

Based on preliminary questioning and other evidence collected at the scene, Iraqi forces identified and arrested the targeted man, as well as six suspected criminal associates, without incident.

During a separate security operation in Beiji, southwest of Kirkuk, an Iraqi emergency response unit and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member who coordinates suicide-vest attacks in the region. The unit arrested four suspected criminal associates of the suspected terrorist without incident.

Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested several suspected terrorists and seized weapons in recent days, military officials reported.

Iraqi security forces today arrested 14 suspected terrorists during a series of operations conducted in northern Iraq targeting suspected al-Qaida in Iraq members.

In southwest Baghdad, Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq explosives operative believed to be planning and conducting homemade bomb attacks throughout Diyala province.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation in Jalula, northeast of Baghdad, Iraqi and U.S. forces arrested four suspected al-Qaida members.

Also today, while conducting an operation southwest of Kirkuk, Iraqi and U.S. forces arrested nine suspected al-Qaida members.

During an operation in Ninevah yesterday, Iraqi and U.S. forces shot and killed a suspected terrorist after he fired at them. Another suspect was arrested.

Also yesterday, Iraqi security forces arrested three suspected terrorists during operations conducted near Mosul and Baghdad.

Additionally, a surveillance crewman on board a 25th Combat Aviation Brigade surveillance aircraft spotted three suspicious men digging and placing an unknown object alongside a road north of Kirkuk on Dec. 25.

As members of a route clearance team attempted to capture the suspects, two of the suspects began shooting. The patrol returned fire, killing one suspect and injuring another. The third suspect surrendered. The soldiers discovered two homemade bombs where the suspects had been digging. They also found two 105 mm artillery rounds, a 122 mm artillery round, a landmine and an 80 mm mortar round. A U.S. explosive ordnance disposal team used C4 explosives to destroy the bombs and artillery rounds.

After questioning the non-injured suspect, Iraqi soldiers went to his house and arrested three more suspects.

In other operations in Iraq:

– Iraqi police and U.S. advisors arrested four suspected terrorists Dec. 25 and 26 in northeastern Mosul while targeting a suspected member of al-Qaida in Iraq believed to be responsible for suicide vest attacks in Balad and Muqdadiyah.

– Iraqi police arrested a suspected terrorist group leader and nine suspects Dec. 26 during security operations near Tikrit. The security team discovered five 107 mm rockets, more than 20 rocket-propelled grenades, seven RPG launchers, two 80 mm mortars and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

– Iraqi security forces arrested two terrorist suspects during a Dec. 26 operation in northeastern Baghdad.

– Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected members of the Kata’ib Hezbollah terrorist group Dec. 24 in northeastern Baghdad.

– Iraqi security forces arrested two suspected terrorists Dec. 24 in Tikrit. The suspects are believed to be associates of a leader of a Jaysh al-Islami Mujahadeen explosives cell that operates in Bayji.