9,000 Troops Launch Fresh Operation In Al Anbar
AP & Reuters confirm what I said was coming almost three weeks ago.
BAGHDAD, July 17 (Reuters) - Nine thousand U.S. and Iraqi troops have launched a fresh operation targeting militants in the Sunni Arab province of Anbar, the U.S. military said on Tuesday.
It said the offensive began on Sunday.
Violence in Anbar has ebbed after local Sunni Arab tribes joined together and turned against Sunni Islamist al Qaeda, which had a strong foothold in the vast western region.
That forced a number of al Qaeda in Iraq militants to move to other provinces, especially north of Baghdad. But some officials have warned al Qaeda would fight back.
“We anticipate that the terrorists will attempt to step up their attacks in the urban areas to regain power and influence over the population” said Colonel Stacy Clardy, commander of U.S. Marine Regimental Combat Team Two.
And AP:
Marine RCT 2 leads new Anbar offensive
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jul 17, 2007 8:10:12 EDT
BAGHDAD — U.S. Marines have launched a new offensive to establish a presence in towns along the Euphrates River long used as insurgent sanctuaries, the U.S. command said Tuesday.
Regimental Combat Team 2 began Operation Mawtini on Sunday to “neutralize any future attempts by anti-Iraqi forces to re-establish a presence in key urban areas along the Euphrates River valley,” a U.S. statement said.
The operation includes more than 9,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops and aims to establish control in remote areas of western Anbar province, the U.S. said.
“We anticipate that the terrorists will attempt to step up their attacks in the urban areas to regain power and influence over the population” said Col. Stacy Clardy, the Marine regimental commander. “We’re hunting them down to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
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Let’s get another 30,000 American and coalition troops in there, NOW! Establish CAPs in these small villages who can work with the locals to prevent Al Quaeda attacks. Drive these guys into the desert, where they can’t hide, and then annihilate them. Show no mercy.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:17 amSure, Mike. Maybe we can ask the Brits? I’m sure Gordie would be glad to reverse his propitiative approaches to Londonstan’s moderate extremists.
July 17th, 2007 at 5:43 pm