| The U.S. military in Iraq says coalition forces have | | | | Defense said (today / Wednesday) a British soldier |
| killed 30 terrorists in raids in Baghdad's Shi'ite Sadr | | | | was killed Tuesday in the southern Iraqi port city of |
| City neighborhood. | | | | Basra. |
| A military statement said troops also detained 12 | | | | The USA Today report published Wednesday says |
| suspects in Wednesday's operations aimed at what | | | | the emergency funding request will allow the military |
| the military called a "Special Groups" terrorist network | | | | to fly many of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected |
| known for smuggling armor-piercing explosive devises | | | | vehicles - or MRAPs - directly to troops rather than |
| (EFPs) from Iran. | | | | send them by ship, which takes weeks. |
| The military says the network is also involved in | | | | According to the report, the head of the Pentagon's |
| moving militants from Iraq to Iran for training. | | | | MRAP task force, John Young, says as many as |
| U.S. officials have accused Iran of providing support | | | | 35-hundred vehicles could be sent to Iraq by end of |
| for Shi'ite militants in Iraq. Tehran denies the charge. | | | | the year. |
| In Washington, USA Today newspaper says the | | | | U.S. officials have said most of the vehicles American |
| defense department has asked Congress for nearly | | | | troops in Iraq currently use are vulnerable to |
| $750 million to airlift new armored vehicles to U.S. | | | | armor-piercing roadside bombs (EFPs). |
| troops facing roadside bombs in Iraq. | | | | Some information for this report was provided by |
| In other developments, the British Ministry of | | | | AFP, AP and Reuters. |