By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : Up to 100 al-Qaeda militants were killed and 136 others were apprehended in the Arrowhead Ripper Operation in the Diyala province, commander of military operations, Major General Abdul-Karim al-Rubei'i said.
"The military operations in the Western suburbs led to the killing of more than 100 (terrorists) and capturing 136 others. Forty-six weapon caches were discovered and 97 explosive devices and 24 bomb houses were diffused," al-Rubei'i told reporters at the operations commanding centre in Baquba Monday.
He added that they had also found houses used for torturing civilians and others taken as "courts" by "the terrorists" for killing "the innocent civilians."
The military operations achieved great success in the western quarters of the town of Baquba, he said, noting that these areas were till the near past "one of the most important strongholds of terrorist groups."
According to Major General al-Rubei'i, signs of life are gradually returning to these areas and the civilians expressed relief for the operations.
He said that they had carried out a huge operation over the past few days to deliver foodstuff to the Diyala residents.
The Diyala operations commander denied that troops taking part in the Arrowhead Ripper targeted civilians.
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