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| Today: 09 February 2010 Time: 10:31 PM |
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| 60 gunmen arrested in Mosul city operation - Iraqi security official |
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| Military and Security 5/10/2008 9:47:00 PM |
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IRBIL, May 10 (KUNA) -- Head of operations in Nineveh governorate affirmed
Sunday the arrest of 60 gunmen in the first day of anti-terrorism operations
in Mosul city.
Lieut-General Jalal Tawfeeq said in a press conference at his headquarters
that operations included several areas in city of Mosul, adding that Iraqi
troops were on the pursuit of Al-Qaeda operatives in the region.
The operation, which began early today, was not announced officially to the
public until 6 a.m. local-time, said Tawfeeq who added that the new operation
was a continuation to previous ones, but on a broader scale.
The security official ruled out the possibility of a huge armed clash with
Qaeda operatives though he expressed wishes that a thing would happen in order
for the army and police to resolve the matter once and for all.
Tawfeeq did not deny or confirm the participation of the Sahwa (Awakening)
council members in the operation which he indicated would last until Mosul was
clear from all Qaeda members.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post said Saturday that the current mission in
Mosul, dubbed the lion roar operation, would measure the ability of the Iraqi
army and police in handling security in northern Iraq.
The newspaper quoted a sourced at the US army as saying that the operation
in Mosul was initiated and planned by the Iraqi army and police.
The US army also said that the operation in Mosul could not be compared to
the one Fallujah in 2004 in which the MNF fought with Islamist extremists in
the area.
US military officials also told the Washington Post that the Iraqi army and
police have achieved a great amount of progress in the last few months.
But the Washington Post indicated that locals in Mosul view the Iraqi army
as an extension of the Kurdish Bishmarka force which was assigned to protect
the Kurd majority in the north.
Mosul was scene for two huge terrorist bombings in January which left 205
people either dead or injured.
The attacks led Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to send several operations
to the city in order to get rid of all terrorists. (end)
sbr.gta
KUNA 102147 May 08NNNN
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