The Iraqi Army claimed to have captured the minister of defense of the Islamic State of Iraq. Coalition forces killed 11 Special Groups fighters in Al Kut. US and Iraqi forces killed 12 al Qaeda operatives and detained 37 near Miqdadiyah. US forces captured two “extremists” believed to be behind the kidnappings of three US soldiers last May. Coalition forces captured 19 al Qaeda operatives in raids throughout Iraq; Iraqi forces captured four. Al Qaeda fighters kidnapped 22 Iraqis at a fake checkpoint near Balad Ruz.
