Diala, Apr 30, (VOI) - Twenty al-Qaeda network fighters were killed during a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation conducted in Diala, the province police chief said. “Police forces backed by Multi-National troops conducted a military operation in the region between Baladruz and Kaanan district of Baquba city,” Brig. Gen Ghanim al-Qureishi, Diala police chief, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).The police official pointed out “20 al-Qaeda network fighters, including six commanders who were non-Iraqi Arab nationals, were killed in the operation.” Baaquba, the capital city of Diala province, lies 57 km north-east Baghdad.
Earlier, the operation site saw the abduction of a minibus carrying Diala University students by an armed group believed to be al-Qaeda network ten days ago, but who were later released on the same day.