Hezbollah arms smugglers captured in Iraq

KUT, Iraq, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Key members of an alleged Hezbollah criminal network accused of smuggling Iranian explosives into Iraq have been captured, military officials say.

In a statement, a spokesman for the U.S.-led Multi-National Forces in Iraq said a "notorious" smuggler from the Iranian-affiliated Hezbollah Islamist militant group had been detained Tuesday in Kut, about 90 miles southeast of Baghdad, KUNA, the Kuwait News Agency, reported.

Four others were detained in the operation as well, which was triggered by intelligence information.

The Multi-National Forces say Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, receives support for its Iraqi operations from Iranian intelligence bodies and the Al-Quds Brigade, a branch of the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards, KUNA reported.