BAGHDAD, Sept 1 (KUNA) -- Coalition forces have conducted two separate raids to capture or kill suspected Special Groups operatives in Baghdad before dawn on Saturday, the Multi-National Force (MNF) said in a statement.
The statement said coalition forces detained eight suspected Special Groups terrorists during the raids.
Coalition forces conducted two deliberate ground assaults to raid what were believed to be the residences of two high-level Special Groups leaders.
The targeted individuals are believed to be leaders of Special Groups responsible for logistical facilitation of Iranian weapons and lethal aid flowing into Iraq, the statement added.
Both targeted individuals are implicated in anti-Coalition forces attacks and the recruitment of extremists to conduct criminal activity.
MNF spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said they are continuing a series of synchronized operations against the Special Groups that utilize Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps - Quds Force support to import weapons, explosives and training, Coalition forces conducted a set of sequential raids last night in Baghdad targeting Special Groups operatives.
Coalition forces continue to target Special Groups terrorists and weapons facilitators who are responsible for directing attacks against innocent Iraqi people, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition troops, the statement said.
In Irbil, five Iraqi military personnel were killed and two were injured, including five Iraqi civilians in two separate improvised bomb attacks in Mosul city north of Iraq.
An Iraqi military source said in a press release an improvised bomb targeted a military patrol in Al-Rushaidyia area north of Mosul resulted in the killing of five and destroying the patrol vehicle.
Meanwhile, an Iraqi police source from Mosul said a suicide bomb attack targeted a police patrol west of the city injured seven people, including two police officers.
Police patrols also discovered a dead body which belonged to judicial council member of Mosul named Khair Al-Din Al-Hamdani, west of the city.
The dead body appeared to have sustained shots in the head and chest. (end) sbr.aha.mb KUNA 011746 Sep 07NNNN