US troops in Iraq raided houses and shops across the Iraqi city of Tikrit last night in an operation aimed at overcoming resistance in the home town of Saddam Hussein.
Some 300 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division detained 13 people suspected of involvement in attacks on forces occupying Iraq.
The operation, targeting 20 houses and three shops, failed to catch five people included on a list of 18 suspects the army drew up on the basis of intelligence from Iraqi sources.
Troops searched houses for suspects, weapons and other incriminating material.
Aside from a few AK 47 assault rifles, common in Iraq and not banned even under the US-led occupation, no weapons were found.
The move follows two attacks on US military flights came under attack yesterday, with nine dying when a helicopter was hit near Falluja.