BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has deemed its weeklong offensive near
the Iraqi-Syrian border a success.
The military said it killed more than 125 Sunni insurgents and captured
39 others with "intelligence value." The military did not elaborate, but
officers later acknowledged many insurgents escaped to Syria.
The military said nine U.S. Marines were killed and 40 injured during
Operation Matador in which U.S. troops searched for forces aligned with Abu
Mussib Al Zarqawi. The operation included such western Iraqi towns as
Karabila, Obeidi and Romana along the Euphrates River, Middle East Newsline reported.
"During Operation Matador, Marines, sailors and soldiers neutralized
this sanctuary killing more than 125 insurgents, wounding many others, and
detaining 39 insurgents of intelligence value," a U.S. military statement
said on May 14.
The focus of the operation was Qaim, located near the Syrian border.
Officials said more than 1,000 Marines, soldiers and sailors participated in
Operation Matador. At one point, they said, insurgents battled each other
for control.
The most intense fighting took place on May 7-8, in which 70 insurgents
were killed, the military said. The military targeted the smuggling route of
insurgents and supplies from Syria, but did not enter the country.
"During the seven-day operation, Marines disrupted the known
infiltration routes through the region and disrupted sanctuaries and staging
areas," the military said.
Insurgents used caves along the Syrian border to hide mortars and
rockets. The military said machine guns and car bombs used by the Zarqawi
network were also found.
"Operation Matador confirmed existing intelligence assessments focused
on this region north of the Euphrates River, including knowledge of numerous
cave complexes in the nearby escarpment," the military statement said.
Marine officials said Sunni insurgents used the Qaim region as a staging
ground for attacks against Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition targets in Baghdad,
Faluja, Mosul and Ramadi. They said the military would continue to monitor
the Qaim area.
"Regimental Combat Team 2 started and ended this operation as planned,
accomplished its mission and secured all objectives," Maj. Gen. Richard
Huck, 2nd Marine Division commander, said. "Coalition and Iraqi security
forces will return again to this area in the future."