IRAQ TAKES CONTROL OF KEY BAGHDAD SUBURB
BAGHDAD — The Iraq Army has taken control of a key suburb regarded
as a hotbed of the Sunni insurgency.
The army assumed security responsibility for Latifiyah from the U.S.-led
coalition on June 15. Latifiyah has been regarded as a stronghold of Al
Qaida and Saddam Hussein loyalists.
"This is an important turning point in the efforts to subdue the
southwest Baghdad town of Latifiyah," a U.S. Army statement said.
Latifiyah has been the source of numerous suicide bombings against U.S.
and Iraqi troops. The town is located in the so-called "Triangle of Death"
and
witnessed the bloodiest battles between Iraqi forces and Sunni insurgents.
Over the last few months, officials said, the Iraq Army has taken the
lead in operations around Latifiyah. They said the army and police have
conducted raids on insurgency strongholds based on intelligence from Sunni
residents.
On Tuesday, Iraqi and U.S. troops killed 15 suspected Al Qaida
insurgents and arrested three others in Bushahin near Baghdad. The U.S.
military said the raid targeted individuals linked with a suspected unnamed
senior Al Qaida member.
"The ground force returned fire, killing nine armed terrorists on the
rooftop," the U.S. military said in a statement.
