Iraqi troops seize Iran-backed militants

BAGHDAD, April 28 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the Iraqi military said national security forces arrested several militants suspected of receiving financing from Iran.

Iraqi Brig. Gen. Qassem Atta said security forces arrested several militants and seized a small-arms cache during raids in Baghdad, Voices of Iraq said.

"Iraqi security forces captured Iranian-backed persons involved in armed operations and seized amounts of adhesive improvised-explosive devices along with documents implicating many persons in armed operation with Iranian help," a translated address from the spokesman said.

Atta said he asked Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to pressure neighboring countries to honor their security agreements with Iraq by preventing foreign fighters and funds from crossing the border.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen Rick Lynch, commander of U.S. military forces in southern Baghdad, said attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces are more refined because of Iranian help.

"What we're seeing now is a more effective use of the Iranian munitions that are in our area, and that's directly tied back to more sophisticated training techniques," Lynch told USA Today.