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Coalition detains Iran-backed insurgent trainer in Baghdad |
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Saturday, 08 March 2008 |
Iran Focus
 Baghdad, Mar. 08 – Coalition troops on Friday captured a suspected insurgent trainer tied to Iran, the United States military announced.
“The targeted individual was reportedly an Iranian-backed Special Groups facilitator who arranged for Special Groups criminal militia members to receive training in Iran”, the Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I) said in a statement.
“The training prepared Special Groups criminals for sniper, improvised explosive device and explosively formed penetrator attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces”, the MNF-I said.
“As a facilitator, he reportedly coordinated Special Groups funding, training and weapons. Reports also indicate the wanted individual was an associate of Iranian-backed Special Groups criminals involved in attacks on Iraqi and Coalition forces”, it said
The term "Special Groups" is used by the U.S. military to describe radical Shiite splinter groups of Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army that are backed by Iran.
"While violence has decreased across the region, a tough fight remains ahead", said Lt. Col. Maura Gillen, MNF-I spokeswoman. "We will continue to pursue the criminal militias who dishonor al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr's cease-fire pledge by committing senseless acts of violence against the Iraqi people and the security forces that protect them".
Other news agencies reported that U.S. forces arrested seven members of a suspected Iranian-backed militia in operations south and north of Baghdad on Thursday and Friday.
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