U.S.-Iraqi raids net 30 suspects

BAGHDAD, March 13 (UPI) -- U.S. and Iraqi military forces conducted joint raids, arresting 30 suspects, and U.S. precision missiles later destroyed a weapons transport vehicle.

Iraqi Special Forces units requested the assistance of the U.S. military in raids in al-Kut in southeastern Wasit province to destroy a vehicle seen carrying weapons to insurgents operating in the area, Multi-National Corps-Iraq reported.

The joint patrol responded to insurgent attacks in the area. An unidentified source for Voices of Iraq said the militants were involved in clashes with the U.S. and Iraqi forces earlier Tuesday.

Iraqi Special Forces were patrolling the city and came under attack from rifle fire. The forces returned fire, killing several militants. The suspects fled to a nearby vehicle and were later seen deploying various artillery to the area to resupply other fighters.

The U.S. military called in an air strike on the vehicle and witnesses described several secondary explosions in the area that they believed were from ordinances placed by the militants.

Meanwhile, a joint U.S-Iraqi operation detained five gunmen Wednesday during operations near Kirkuk.

A source to VOI said a local resident provided a tip to security forces of gunmen operating in the area.