BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has launched a new offensive near the
Iraqi border with Syria.
U.S. Marines and Iraqi forces said that Operation Spear in the
northwestern Iraqi province of Al Anbar, sought
to eliminate Sunni insurgency cells and support systems in the area of
Karabilah.
The U.S. military allocated about 1,000 Marines and sailors from
Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division. U.S. aircraft and tanks also
participated in the mission, which began on June 17. The military said that
so far about 50 insurgents have been killed, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said foreign insurgents, supplies and funding have continued
to stream from Syria to Iraq's Al Anbar province. They said the foreign
fighters receive clothing, identity cards, weapons and instructions at safe
houses operated by Abu Mussib Al Zarqawi and then sent to different areas of
Iraq.
Repeated U.S. assaults have reduced but not halted the insurgency line.
During Operation Spear, U.S. aircraft using precision-guided munitions
destroyed targets in the city.
"Only buildings occupied by terrorists firing on Marines and Iraqi
soldiers were bombed," a Marine statement said on Saturday. "Three buildings
were confirmed destroyed."
The statement reported progress in Operation Spear, saying Marines and
Iraqi soldiers discovered four Iraqi hostages who had been beaten,
handcuffed and chained to a wall in a bunker located in central Karabilah.
Several small weapons caches were also found and destroyed.
Northwest of Baghdad, Iraqi security forces captured eight suspected
car-bomb manufacturers and seized a nearly completed car bomb, bomb-making
materials and weapons during a cordon-and-search operation on June 15. The
nearly-completed car bomb consisted of eight 125 mm mortar rounds and a
remote detonating system and a timer.
Officials said the search marked the launch of Operation Overload, which
included more than 1,500 Iraqi and U.S. forces. The Iraqi forces comprised
members of the Iraqi Special Commandos.
"In the past two weeks, we have seen the number of tips on enemy
activity given to us from the local Iraqi people skyrocket," U.S. Army Lt.
Col. Steven Merkel, commander of 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery
Regiment, said. "Just as importantly, the information is timelier and more
specific than the majority of what we received previously."
