Seven suspected al-Qaeda members were arrested in a search and raid campaign targeting a number of residential buildings in southern Kirkuk province, the Iraqi police said Thursday (March 29th).

"Iraqi security forces launched a surprise military operation on Riyadh and Sour villages in Hawijah based on prior intelligence," Kirkuk police spokesperson Lt. Col. Salam al-Jaf told Al-Shorfa.

The operation led to the arrest of seven al-Qaeda militants who were found at two buildings in the two villages. Security forces seized a car bomb, explosives, various weapons and landmines in the buildings, "as well as bits of evidence proving their involvement in several terrorist crimes," al-Jaf said.