West of Biaj, multinational forces detained two suspects, one an alleged associate of the al-Qaida in northern Iraq, military officials said in a news release. The suspect reportedly is responsible for facilitating financial networks in the Mosul area.

Coalition forces nabbed other people suspected of facilitating financial networks for al-Qaida in Iraq, as well as those involved in smuggling operations.

"These operations demonstrate the pressure Iraqi and coalition forces continue to apply against al-Qaida networks in central and northern Iraq," said U.S. Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a U.S. military spokesman.