BAGHDAD (BNO NEWS) – Iraqi security forces on Wednesday arrested eight suspected al-Qaeda members today during separate operations conducted in northern Iraq and Baghdad, military officials said.

Iraqi forces arrested a number of suspected extremists during two joint security operations to degbrade the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.

In Haditha, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched two buildings for a suspected al-Qaeda member believed to finance and traffic explosives into the Abu Ghraib area to carry out vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks. Iraqi forces identified and arrested the wanted man and two suspected criminal accomplices.

During a separate operation in Khanaqin, the 3rd Emergency Response Unit and U.S. advisors searched two buildings for a suspected al-Qaeda member who coordinates attacks for the terrorist group in the Baghdad and Baqubah areas. Evidence collected at the scene led Iraqi police to arrest two suspected criminal associates of the warranted person.

Meanwhile, Iraqi soldiers arrested two suspected extremist operators during a joint security operation conducted in northeastern Baghdad to capture a suspected Promised Day Brigade leader.

Operating under a court-issued warrant, Iraqi soldiers and U.S. advisors searched a residential building for a suspected extremist leader linked to coordinating IED attacks in the Baghdad area. The suspect also is wanted for smuggling weapons into Iraq and for engaging in extortion activity, which serves as a source of funding for Promised Day, an Iranian-backed extremist group.

While searching the building, the security team discovered a concealed compartment where the suspect was found hiding, armed with an AK-47 rifle and a significant amount of ammunition.

Information and evidence gathered at the scene led Iraqi soldiers to identify and arrest the suspected Promised Day leader and an alleged associate.