BAGHDAD, July 12 (KUNA) — American and Iraqi regular forces have been engaged in a wide-scale mop-up operation aimed at hideouts of Al-Qaeda organization in the governorate of Diyala west of the Iraqi capital.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, the commander of the ongoing operation, Major General Abdel Karim Al-Rabiee, said the operation targeted strongholds of the terrorists in Mansouriat Al-Jabal east of the provincial town of Baqouba.

The combined force has killed 19 members of the terrorist organization, wounded several others and detained 13, the major general said, adding that the troops defused some explosives and blew up a hideout for the gunmen.

He dubbed the operation as pre-emptive and indicated that it was carried out in cooperation with citizens living in the region.

The operation is part of ongoing wider action against the insurgents in the region that has so far resulted in killing 60 gunmen and detaining 222 others.

Baqouba is a major hotbed for the anti-state insurgents. Authorities have recently sought assistance from local tribes in the fight against the armed hardliners. Arms have been given to some tribesmen to assist the government forces.

Meanwhile, the American Army said in a statement that the US troops, on Thursday, arrested 19 suspected Al-Qaeda gunmen in central and northern Iraq.

One of the detainees is suspected of being a leading member of the organization, related to attacks on the Iraqi and allied forces and facilitating cross-border infiltration of foreign terrorists into the country, it said.

Separately, a police officer said authorities were investigating burglary of USD 282 million from Dar Al-Salam Bank in Baghdad on Thursday. He charged that three guards of the bank stole the money and fled to an unknown destination.

The Iraqi Government has been struggling to restore law and order in the country, in the face of violence masterminded by a cocktail of armed insurgency groups.