Troops kill man strapped with grenades

BAGHDAD, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Two suspected terrorists were killed and 12 other militants were detained Friday during a coalition forces offensive in Iraq.

Officials say one of the captured suspects southeast of Baghdad is an alleged foreign terrorist facilitator involved in planning attacks on coalition aircrafts, Multi-National Forces-Iraq reported.

Intelligence led ground forces to a building when a suspect engaged troops while allegedly wearing a vest loaded with grenades. Officials say two men were killed in the offensive.

"Iraqi and coalition forces will continue targeting al-Qaida to diminish their ability to attack Iraqis," Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman, said in a statement.

Coalition forces detained eight suspected al-Qaida operatives in Ramadi, Mosul and Kirkuk believed to be involved in kidnappings, assassinations and small-arms attacks among other hostile operations.

U.S. officials have been touting recent security gains around Iraq largely attributed to the troop surge. But critics argue that despite the gains violence is still a presence in the country.

Thursday in Kirkuk, a suicide car bomb attack killed two children and injured 11 more in an attack officials say was targeting the Kirkuk Police Department.