Security forces arrested 17 individuals suspected of planning attacks on visitors in Baghdad during the anniversary of Imam Moussa al-Kadhum's death, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence said Tuesday (June 12th).

According to a ministry statement obtained by Al-Shorfa, "A military operation carried out by army forces after obtaining intelligence thwarted these attacks and led to the arrest of the terrorists involved."

The statement added that the suspects were in separate buildings in al-Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad.