BAGHDAD — A joint U.S.-Iraqi force targeted an al-Qaida cell involved in funneling arms and weapons into Iraq from Syria, arresting three people near the troubled northern city of Mosul, the U.S. military said Saturday.
The statement said the cell is led by the Syria-based Abu Khalaf, whose assets were frozen Thursday for his involvement in the flow of money, weapons and militants through Syria into Iraq.
Mosul, described as the last urban stronghold in Iraq of al-Qaida, has been the scene of operations ahead of a June deadline for U.S. forces to pull out of the country’s cities.
U.S. commanders have expressed concern that Iraqi forces may not be ready to shoulder the full burden of security in Mosul, but the Iraqi government has said the deadline is "non-extendable.”
Iraqi Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi said at the World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan that there was a degree of Iraqi disquiet about the imminent U.S. pullout.
"We’re nervous about the United States leaving Iraq, but this is a challenge we have to take,” he said.
President Barack Obama has said he plans to end U.S. combat operations in Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010.
"We’re confident of our forces, and I think we can win that challenge,” Abdul-Mahdi said.
by the associated press
The statement said the cell is led by the Syria-based Abu Khalaf, whose assets were frozen Thursday for his involvement in the flow of money, weapons and militants through Syria into Iraq.
Mosul, described as the last urban stronghold in Iraq of al-Qaida, has been the scene of operations ahead of a June deadline for U.S. forces to pull out of the country’s cities.
U.S. commanders have expressed concern that Iraqi forces may not be ready to shoulder the full burden of security in Mosul, but the Iraqi government has said the deadline is "non-extendable.”
Iraqi Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi said at the World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan that there was a degree of Iraqi disquiet about the imminent U.S. pullout.
"We’re nervous about the United States leaving Iraq, but this is a challenge we have to take,” he said.
President Barack Obama has said he plans to end U.S. combat operations in Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010.
"We’re confident of our forces, and I think we can win that challenge,” Abdul-Mahdi said.
by the associated press
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