US Military Detains 30 Suspected al-Qaida Members in Iraq

The US military in Iraq says it has detained 30 suspected militants during three days of operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq. The military said in a statement Thursday it detained 10 people - including the alleged leader of a bombing network - in the Tigris River valley, north of Baghdad. The military said in a statement Thursday it detained 10 people - including the alleged leader of a bombing network - in the Tigris River valley, north of Baghdad.

Authorities arrested the other suspects around Baghdad and in the cities of Fallujah and Mosul. Authorities arrested the other suspects around Baghdad and in the cities of Fallujah and Mosul.

On Wednesday, Iraqi officials said bomb attacks and a shooting killed 15 people in several parts of the country. On Wednesday, Iraqi officials said bomb attacks and a shooting killed 15 people in several parts of the country.

The US military says a bomb also hit a US convoy in the northern town of Samarra, killing an American soldier and wounding two others. The US military says a bomb also hit a US convoy in the northern town of Samarra, killing an American soldier and wounding two others.

Despite the latest violence, the Iraqi military said overall attacks in the country dropped 85 percent in June compared to the previous year. Despite the latest violence, the Iraqi military said overall attacks in the country dropped 85 percent in June compared to the previous year.

Iraqi Major General Qassim al-Mousawi said Wednesday that in June, Iraq had an average of 25 terrorist attacks a day, a sharp decline from 160 in June 2007. Iraqi Major General Qassim al-Mousawi said Wednesday that in June, Iraq had an average of 25 terrorist attacks a day, a sharp decline from 160 in June 2007. The US military has said Iraq's violence has dropped to a four-year low. The US military has said Iraq's violence has dropped to a four-year low.