By Xinhua,
Ramadi, Iraq : U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces raided on Thursday strongholds of al-Qaida network in Anbar province, detaining 40 Qaida suspects, a provincial security source said.
Based on intelligence reports, the troops surrounded and searched al-Qaida hideouts in villages in the vast area of Lake Tharthar in the province and captured 40 wanted suspects, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
During the operation, the troops also found and confiscated large amounts of weapons and ammunition, the source said.
The sprawling area of Lake Tharthar that stretches from the two cities of Fallujah, some 50 km west of Baghdad, and Samarra, 120 km north of Baghdad, is considered one of the largest Qaida bastions in Iraq.