Meanwhile, Back in Iraq

A Sadr loyalist is arrested

Iraqi forces on Thursday detained a senior Health Ministry official accused in alleged corruption and infiltration of the ministry that has funnelled millions of dollars to Shiite militiamen blamed for much of the recent sectarian violence in the capital, the U.S. military said.

The raid was the latest action in a crackdown on al-Sadr's militia, coming a day after the chief U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said a security sweep to stop the rampant attacks in the capital was under way.
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The military statement did not name the official, but a ministry spokesman said earlier that U.S. and Iraqi forces had seized deputy Health Minister Hakim al-Zamili, a supporter of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, from his first-floor office in northern Baghdad.

The detainee was implicated in the deaths of several ministry officials, including the director-general in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, the military said.

He reportedly orchestrated several kickback schemes related to inflated contracts for equipment and services, with millions of dollars allegedly funnelled to the Mahdi Army militia that is loyal to al-Sadr, according to the statement.

The official also was suspected of providing large-scale employment of militia members who used Health Ministry facilities and services for "sectarian kidnapping and murder," the military said.

Joint U.S.-Iraqi forces stormed the Health Ministry compound early Thursday, causing all the employees to flee, spokesman Qassim Yahya said.
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Baghdad's streets have been electric with tension as U.S. officials confirmed the new security operation was under way. U.S. armour rushed through streets and Iraqi armoured personnel carriers guarded bridges and major intersections.

New coils of barbed-wire and blast barriers marked checkpoints that caused traffic bottlenecks. U.S. Apache helicopters were in the air over parts of the city where they hadn't been seen before.
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Caldwell said Wednesday, that the much-awaited Baghdad security operation was finally underway but would be implemented gradually.

MNF-I press release here.

Will the "Baghdad security operation" be reported as anything other than "increasing violence"? We'll know soon enough. But it may be difficult to tell when operations kick into high gear, as even though rarely reported, operations throughout the country have never ceased.

More news from the past two days in Iraq - see if you can identify the one story that represents the only sort that would continue if the U.S. were to withdraw:

All stories via MNF-I:

13 TERRORISTS KILLED IN AIR STRIKE NORTHEAST OF AMIRIYAH

BAGHDAD– Coalition Forces killed an estimated 13 terrorists during an air strike Thursday morning targeting a senior foreign fighter facilitator northeast of Amiriya.

Intelligence reports indicated an individual associated with foreign fighter facilitation was in the targeted area.

During the operation, Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists and found a cache including armor piercing ammunition.

Information gained from the target area led Coalition Forces to two suspected foreign fighter safe houses where suspected terrorists were assembled.

Coalition Forces observed the structures to confirm intelligence reports and engaged with precision guided munitions and rotary wing close air support, killing an estimated 13 terrorists.

BAGHDAD – Coalition Forces conducted an air strike Wednesday targeting an al-Qaida in Iraq-related vehicle-borne improvised explosives devices network near Arab Jabour.

Intelligence reports indicated that this network is responsible for a large and devastating number of VBIED attacks in the Baghdad area. They are also responsible for IED and sniper attacks conducted against the Iraqi people and Iraqi and Coalition Forces.

As Coalition Forces approached the targeted building they came under intense enemy fire. Ground forces assessed seven suspected terrorists were in the targeted building. Coalition Forces determined the targets too hostile for ground troops and called for air support. Two precision guided munitions were dropped destroying the targeted building and an associated structure.

BAGHDAD – Iraqi security forces and their Multi-National Division - Baghdad partners teamed up Feb. 6 to clear neighborhoods in northeast Baghdad of insurgent activity.

The raids conducted by Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 1st Brigade 9th Iraqi Army Division and three battalions from 2nd Inf. Div. resulted in detaining 20 suspected terrorists, several side arms and anti-Iraqi propaganda documents.
“Today’s clearing operations were precision strikes aimed at known or suspected terrorist hideouts and weapons cache sites,” said Col. Steve Townsend, commander of 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists believed to have ties to an al-Qaida improvised explosive device cell during a raid Wednesday morning in West Taji.

Intelligence reports indicated one of the detainees has significant ties to a local IED cell and had connections to recent anti-Coalition Forces activities.

Ground forces entered the targeted building and detained the two suspected terrorists without incident. Upon searching the house, ground forces found evidence of explosives material hidden inside the building and buried around the exterior. They also found several weapons and materials commonly used to make IEDs.

In order to prevent the residence from being used for future sanctuary to terrorists, ground forces destroyed the building with strategically-placed charges. Before placing the charges, Ground forces escorted two women and nine children outside the house and to a neighbor’s home in order to ensure their safety.

BAGHDAD – Soldiers of the 4th Iraqi Army Division removed another bomber from the streets of Iraq after capturing the suspected leader of an improvised explosive device cell during operations with Coalition advisers Feb. 6 near Taji, north of Baghdad. The suspect is believed responsible for coordinating and carrying out IED attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces convoys in the area.

The man is alleged to have carried out an IED attack against a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle in September which resulted in the death of one U.S. Soldier. He is also implicated in a more recent IED strike that killed three U.S. Soldiers Jan. 27.

The suspect is also believed to be involved in the abduction of innocent Iraqi civilians and using his residence as a place to interrogate and execute them.

There was minimal damage done to the objective. There were no Iraqi civilians, Iraqi forces or Coalition Forces casualties.

BAGHDAD – Soldiers of the 7th Iraqi Army Division captured a suspected foreign fighter facilitator during operations with Coalition advisers Feb. 6 in the Al Qaim region, near the Syrian border.

The suspect is alleged to be gathering information about Iraqi Forces and Coalition Forces operations and providing it to foreign fighters. The man is also suspected of harboring foreign fighters in Iraq while they carry out insurgent activities in the area.

Minimal damage was done to the objective. No Iraqi civilian, Iraqi forces or Coalition Forces were casualties.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq—Iraqi Army troops and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers discovered a weapons cache in an industrial area north of Abu Ghuraib Feb. 3.

Iraqi troops with the 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment were performing a joint patrol when the cache was discovered.

The find yielded 250 81mm mortar rounds, 100 120mm mortar rounds and one 81mm mortar tube.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Insurgent forces fired three 120mm mortar rounds into the village of Mzerat, Iraq, killing three children and wounding 12 other residents.

The attack occurred at approximately 9:45 a.m., 10 miles north of Baghdad. Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers responded to the incident, to provide medical aid to the injured.

Shortly after arriving on the scene to investigate, Soldiers with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment confirmed that the rounds were fired by insurgents operating in the area.

Coalition forces secured the area and provided medical aid to the injured. The incident is under investigation, in the hope of apprehending the terrorists responsible for the attack.