The Iraqi army arrested 13 suspected al-Qaeda members in a security operation south of Baghdad, Col. Dhiya al-Wakeel, spokesperson for the Baghdad operations command, told Al-Shorfa Saturday (June 23rd).

The army's 17th Division conducted large-scale raids in anticipation of terrorist attacks in the capital, he said.

The fighters, nine of whom were wanted by the courts on terrorism charges, were arrested in al-Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad, he said.

Security forces also found 23 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 190 120-mm mortars, 21 Katyusha rockets and TNT paste during the operation, al-Wakeel said.