-Gaining ground!

Iraqi, Marine Forces Add to Gains in Northern BabilForward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq -- Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Marines rounded up 15 suspected militants south of Baghdad on Dec. 1 as a week-old offensive aimed at ridding northern Babil province of insurgents entered its eighth day.The Iraqi National Guard, backed by elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, detained three men during an early-morning raid near Lutafiyah. Several hours later, ING captured two suspected militants near Mahmudiyah.In other action throughout the province, Marines continued to go after individuals wanted in connection with insurgent activity, detaining ten men in five separate missions. The 15 suspects picked up today raise to 210 the number captured since the operation began just before Nov. 25.Meanwhile, a would-be terrorist attempting to plant a roadside bomb along Route 1 was killed when one of the two mortar rounds he was using exploded prematurely.Iraqi, U.S. and British forces have been conducting daily raids throughout southern Baghdad and northern Babil since Nov. 23, when the Iraqi SWAT team captured 32 suspected insurgents in the town of Jabella, about 50 miles south of the capital.The operation, an intensification of activity underway in northern Babil since August, has taken advantage of a boost in forces and growing intelligence to expand efforts to capture or kill insurgents in the area.Release #041201b