"Coalition forces are working diligently to eliminate Al Qaida and foreign facilitation networks in Iraq," Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a coalition spokesman, said. "These networks are a hindrance to the peace and stability the Iraqi people deserve."

On Sunday, Iraqi and U.S. troops captured 15 suspected Al Qaida operatives in raids west of Abu Ghraib near Baghdad. A U.S. military statement said the coalition force detained a "suspected foreign terrorist facilitation network leader and one of his associates."

The statement said four suspects were arrested northwest of Karmah and three suspects were detained in Falujah. All of the suspects were alleged to have ties to the Al Qaida network and helped foreign fighters enter Iraq.

In another operation, Iraqi and U.S. troops captured three Al Qaida agents northeast of Al Asad. Officials said the detainees operated an Al Qaida-aligned foreign fighter training camp.

Coalition forces also nabbed three suspected Al Qaida fighters who operated west of Taji. Officials said the Iraqi and U.S. militaries killed an alleged member of the Al-Qaida associated Islamic State of Iraq. They said a senior operative of the Islamic State of Iraq was arrested on March 10.

Officials said the U.S. mission to stabilize Baghdad has sought to target financiers and bomb-making cells. They said such operatives were captured around Kirkuk and Tarmiyah.

Despite the U.S.-led raids, Al Qaida has maintained suicide bombings against Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq. On Sunday at least 31 people were killed in central Baghdad in a suicide bombing of a truck that transported Shi'ite pilgrims. Nearly 300 Shi'ite pilgrims have so far been killed in less than a week.