The U.S. Army lost an attack helicopter during an
offensive on Sunni insurgency strongholds in western Iraq.
U.S. Central Command said coalition force raided what it termed an Iraqi
"terrorist training camp" about 150 kilometers northwest of Baghdad on
Thursday.
The command said the camp was attacked from the air and ground in an
operation that included soldiers from the U.S. 101st Airborne Division. The
air assets included F-16 multi-role fighters, unmanned air vehicles and
helicopters.
During the fighting, a 101st Airborne Division Apache attack helicopter
was downed. The crew was not injured, a military statement said.
"Coalition ground forces were able to recover the uninjured two-member
crew almost immediately and secure the crash site," the statement said. "Two
additional Apache helicopters assisted in engaging irregular forces in the
vicinity of the downed aircraft."
The 101st Airborne operates such aircraft as UH-60 Black Hawk, OH-58D
Kiowa Warrior, OH-6A Cayuse, Hughes 500M Little Bird, CH-47 Chinook, and the
AH-64A Apache.
Central Command also reported that a U.S. Air Force F-16CG jet crashed
near Baghdad on Thursday. The command said the pilot ejected and was rescued
unharmed. The military said it was investigating the cause of the crash.
About 4,000 U.S. soldiers have been deployed in the offensive against
Sunni insurgency strongholds regarded as loyal to deposed President Saddam
Hussein. The offensive was meant to stop daily attacks on U.S. soldiers.
So far, U.S. forces have captured more than 400 suspected Iraqi
insurgents. Officials said 70 Sunni insurgents were killed in the fighting.
"There were a number [of insurgents] killed -- large number," Gen.
Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.
The offensive, termed Operation Peninsula Strike, has focused on three
Sunni cities near the Tigris River. U.S. officials said this was the
largest U.S. operation in Iraq since the end of active hostilities in April.
Central Command said Thursday's attack on the training camp was part of
"the continued effort to eradicate Ba'ath Party loyalists, paramilitary
groups and other subversive elements." The command said Iraqi police
participated in the operation.
"We are certainly seeing some organized resistance, particularly in the
area west of Baghdad and the area north of Baghdad," L. Paul Bremer, the
U.S. administrator for Iraq, said. "We do not see signs of central command
and control direction in that resistance at this point. These are groups
that are organized, but they're small. They may be five or six men
conducting isolated attacks against our soldiers."
But U.S. analysts said the escalation in attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq
reflects the emergence of an organized Sunni resistance. An analysis by the
Washington Institute for Near East Policy said the resistance is fueled by
friction with the U.S.-led coalition, discontent over the loss of the
privilege status of the Sunni minority, tribal rivalries and outside
support.
"Quality attacks have already taken place at Hawija, Haditha, Falluja,
Al Qaim, and Tikrit," the report said. "Greater frequency, sophistication,
and geographic spread of such attacks would be a cause for concern. To some
extent, the intimidation factor of U.S. forces has eroded."
In July, the United States will receive help from Poland in efforts to
stabilize Iraq. Poland plans to lead a battalion of 2,300 soldiers from
European and non-European countries and maintain responsibility over five
Iraqi governorates. Spain has already agreed to join the Polish-led
battalion.
