Marines destroy al-Qaida unit in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. Marines wiped out a suspected al-Qaida cadre this week outside the Iraqi town of Karmah.

The Multi-National Force said Friday that artillery fire and precision bombs dropped by a pair of Harrier jets killed a dozen insurgents who were reportedly loading weapons and bomb-making materials into three trucks.

The incident took place Wednesday night in an area known to be a hiding place for insurgent arms.

Coalition forces were also on the offensive in the Tigris River valley Friday. The Multi-National Force reported five al-Qaida fighters killed in a firefight southwest of Balad. Special Forces commandos also captured a suspected al-Qaida emir Thursday. The suspect was identified as a Sunni extremist who targeted Iraqi civilians.