Blast Rocks Checkpoint to Baghdad Airport

Today's Iraqi jihad update comes from AP, :

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. soldiers have captured a former Saddam Hussein regime spy, the U.S. military said, and a suicide bomber attacked the main checkpoint to Baghdad International Airport on Wednesday, wounding at least seven Iraqis, police said.

The explosion, which occurred shortly after 9 a.m., sent a huge cloud of black smoke billowing into the sky, destroyed several vehicles and
underscored the difficulties U.S. and Iraqi authorities are facing to curb the rampant insurgency.

In New York, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said U.S.-led forces must remain in Iraq until the country's own soldiers and police can take responsibility for securing the nation amid its continuing insurgency.

U.S. soldiers struck a blow against militants plotting attacks by capturing four wanted terrorists during separate raids since Sunday, including a former spy in Saddam's secret service who was believed to be financing several terrorist groups in western Baghdad's Ghazaliyah district, the military said in a statement Wednesday.

The former spy, whose identity was not revealed, was also suspected of working as a cameraman for a terrorist group, apparently filming attacks against coalition forces that are later posted on Internet sites or distributed to media outlets.

Iraqi authorities are trying to take the fight to insurgents, who have
launched attacks that have killed at least 765 people since Iraq's new
government was announced April 28. A massive Iraqi-led offensive has been launched, dubbed Operation Lightning, aimed at curbing the constant flow of violence...

And here's an update on the kidnapped Australian, Douglas Wood:

Australia's mufti, Sheik Taj El Din al-Hilaly, returned to Baghdad on Wednesday in a bid to secure the release of kidnapped Australian hostage Douglas Wood, 63, who was detained by an insurgent group called the called the Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq about a month ago.

Wood, an engineer who lives in California, is believed to be alive and well, al-Hilaly has previously said. The mufti's spokesman said Sunday that Wood will not be released until fighting subsides around the area where he is being held...