OIF Summary; Nov. 28, 2008: Troops Nab 4 Suspected Criminals in Baghdad Raids

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2008 -- U.S. soldiers detained four suspected criminals yesterday during Thanksgiving Day operations in southern Baghdad’s Rashid district, military officials said.

Some of the detainees allegedly conducted attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces while others are suspected of weapons-trafficking activities.

"Our soldiers continue to support our Iraqi security forces partners as we assist them in providing a safe and secure environment for the Iraqi people,” said Army Maj. Dave Olson, spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team.

In Nov. 26 operations:

Eighteen women in northern Iraq who were associated with al-Qaida in Iraq suicide bombing cells turned themselves into coalition forces. The women were persuaded by local religious leaders and their fathers to cease their training in suicide operations and reconcile.

Senior U.S. and Iraqi officers met in Diyala to coordinate the transfer of authority for Sons of Iraq operations from coalition to Iraqi jurisdiction. The Sons of Iraq program is currently managed by coalition forces, but the Iraqi government will soon assume responsibility for this program.

Iraqi National Police seized weapons while U.S. soldiers detained two suspected bomb cell members in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.

Tips provided by concerned citizens led Iraqi soldiers, police and U.S. soldiers to seize several weapons caches throughout Baghdad.

Several improvised-explosive devices detonated in eastern Baghdad, wounding five civilians, five National policemen and three local Iraqi police officers.

A mass grave site containing 23 remains was found in Diyala province. The bodies appear to have been deceased for about a year-and-a-half. Iraqi police will present the remains to respective families for proper burial.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

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