Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Special Forces detained 31 at an al-Qaeda in Iraq meeting that was raided on Thursday, August 17. Multi-National Force - Iraq reported that Iraqi civilians in the area provided the tip that led to the large capture in Sayafiyah, Iraq. MNF-I reported that individuals targeted in this specific raid “have been connected to multiple improvised explosive device attacks, weapons smuggling, kidnapping, extra judicial killings and are believed to be responsible for the displacement of hundreds of Shiites.”

Elsewhere, south of Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch said that forces under his command are tracking about 50 members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps in their area. While much focus is put on knocking down al-Qaeda in the area, Maj. Gen. Lynch said of the Iranian IRGC forces, “We know they’re here and we target them as well.” He went on to explain, “They go back and forth. There’s a porous border.”