Iranian officer captured in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- A high-ranking member of Iran's security forces has been captured at Baghdad International Airport, U.S. military officials revealed Wednesday.

The man, identified as a member of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, was taken into custody Tuesday on suspicion of facilitating arms shipments from Iran into Iraq, CNN reported.

The U.S. military said the shipments were made under a pretext of an organization handling aspects of construction and repair of religious sites in Iraq.

Officials in Tehran didn't respond immediately to the reported arrest, CNN said. Iranian officials have long denied accusations that the country is helping fuel violence in Iraq.