[UK] Troops seize 12 [terror suspects] in Basra raids (UK stands up to wipe out terrorists in Iraq)

Reuters ^ | 2005 Oct 7 | Alaa Habib

[Wiz]

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - British troops seized 12 men, including members of the Iraqi police, during overnight raids in Basra on suspicion of involvement in deadly attacks on foreign troops, the military said on Friday.

Some of the detainees are also linked to militia groups, a British commander in the area said. Sources in rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's office in the southern Iraqi city said those detained were mostly Sadr supporters.

"In the past two months, eight multi-national force soldiers and six coalition members have been killed by terrorists in Basra province," Brigadier John Lorimer said in a statement.

"This terrorism must be stopped and ... this operation was designed to do exactly that," he said.

The raids came hours after Prime Minister Tony Blair said London suspected Iran or Lebanon's Hizbollah group might be supplying technology and explosives to Shi'ite Muslim militants operating in Iraq, although he said he had no proof.

Hizbollah and Iran deny the accusations.

"Some of the individuals we have arrested are linked to militia groups," Lorimer said. "But let me make it absolutely clear: we have acted against them solely because they are involved in terrorism, not because they are members of any particular political group or organisation."

He added that some of those detained were also members of the Basra police force, which Iraqi officials recently conceded had been infiltrated by militia organisations.

British and U.S. forces have been repeatedly attacked in recent months by roadside bombs packed with "shaped charges", which are much more deadly than conventional roadside bombs.

At least six British troops have been killed since July in attacks that appeared to be the work of the more powerful bombs.

[Wiz]

Southern area of Iraq has been calm until recent months when new types of bombs were recognized being used against UK troops. Until then, UK troos kept to avoid clashes with Mahdi Army and the local armed Islamists. Now, with more attacks in the south, UK troops had no chance but to begin operations to raid against these. As the US Armed Force wipe out the terrorists in the west, the UK force may have begun its similar operations within the south. The good news is that there has been an increase of US Armed force up to around 150,000 from 138,000 and there are some of the Iraqi force that will be able to operate on its own, allowing more chance of support if the UK force is having a hard time to deal with the terrorists in the south. This is the beginning for US and UK to wipe out nationwide at the same time in the north and south of Iraq. It is clean up time.

[Wiz]

ping

[NordP]

Yeah UK!!!!!!!

Thanks, snugs....I know this happened on your order ;-)

[Proud_USA_Republican]

It is clean up time.

Good. First place to start is with that Iranian stooge, Sadr.