US troops detain dozens in Iraq raid ( 2003-10-30 13:42) (Agencies)
American soldiers carried out
pre-dawn raids Thursday in Saddam Hussein's hometown and detained more than a
dozen suspects, some believed to be involved in setting up a new terrorist cell,
the U.S. military said.
Under the cover of darkness, 4th Infantry Division troops fanned out across
downtown Tikrit, 120 miles north of Baghdad, raiding six houses.
U.S. forces had "reliable intelligence" that the suspects were involved in
establishing a "new terrorist network in Tikrit and planning terrorist attacks
against coalition forces," Lt. Col. Steve Russell told The Associated Press
after the operation.
The area around Tikrit has been the scene of increased attacks on U.S. troops
that coalition forces blame on Saddam supporters and members of his Fedayeen
militia.
This region in northern Iraq is part of the Sunni Triangle, an area to the
north and west of Baghdad that is considered a hotbed of anti-American
sentiment.
U.S. troops detained 14 suspects, including four identified as "targeted
individuals," said Russell, the commander of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry
Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division.
Russell said the other 10 men were taken into custody for questioning because
they were closely related to the four and could provide "additional
information."
"We continue to work against these cells, to disrupt, capture or kill them,"
Russell said.
Sweeping into two houses at a time, the troops took all the men found on the
premises into the courtyards, allowing women and children to remain inside the
homes. The men were told to kneel on the ground as troops put hoods put over
their heads and tied their hands behind their backs.
Later, the men were led to a field near a local school and lined up against
the school wall. The wall was painted with pro-Saddam graffiti and calls for
Jihad, or Holy War, in Arabic: "God, our land, our president" and "Youth of
Tikrit, rise up against Americans."
An older man, the father of two of the suspects, was released and returned to
his home while the rest were trucked away.
The raiders discovered false identification cards and multiple fake license
plates with "official government stickers" in one of the houses, Russell said.
"This is obviously an early indication of the activity they were involved
in," he added.
The raiders have successfully cracked down on anti-coalition supporters in
the region in the past, often acting upon local intelligence and tips from
informants sympathetic to the efforts of the troops.
"The trust in us has increased because we have put many bad guys away,"
Russell said.
