BAGHDAD, March 25 (UPI) -- Iraqi and U.S.-led forces uncovered a large weapons cache and arrested several suspected militants in raids throughout the country.
An Iraqi police unit operating alongside U.S.-led forces arrested a suspect believed to be behind several roadside bombs in the city of Hashimiyah located roughly 120 miles south of Baghdad.
The U.S. military said in the release reporting the incident the cache contained several mortar rounds and rocket propelled grenades, 200 pounds of C-4 explosives and 20 Katyusha rockets.
A separate raid by Iraqi police operating in Karbala Tuesday resulted in the arrest of 15 suspects that local police officials said "fled Basra after waging the recent security plan," Voices of Iraq reported.
The Karbala police chief, Gen. Raed Jawdat, said his security forces stepped up security measures in the face of the outbreak of violence in southern Iraq.
Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces in Baghdad arrested 16 suspects and dismantled some 10 bombs under a security plan called Fardh al-Qanoon, which means "enforce the law" in Arabic.
Baghdad police officials told VOI several of the men were suspected gunmen.
