Mowaffaq al-Rubaie said in an interview with the Saudi Ukaz newspaper most of the Saudis said during interrogation they had entered Iraq from Syria.

He said many of them were on wanted lists in Saudi Arabia, and said he would turn over all of the intelligence on them in an upcoming visit to Riyadh, Iraq's Alsumaria news agency reported.

Rubaie also predicted "final victory" against al-Qaida in coming months, saying there had been "major achievements" made, which are ongoing.

The interview was published Thursday as the U.S. military announced it had staged a major air raid on al-Qaida safe houses south of Baghdad, destroying 40 buildings in 10 minutes, CNN said.