Offensive kills dozens of Iraqi insurgents, military says (Terrorists, that is)

CNN ^ | November 5, 2005 | Arwa Damon

[indianrightwinger]

Offensive kills dozens of Iraqi insurgents, military says Operation near Syrian border takes aim at rebel stronghold

Saturday, November 5, 2005; Posted: 2:09 p.m. EST (19:09 GMT)

HUSAYBA, Iraq (CNN) -- Dozens of insurgents have been killed during Operation Steel Curtain, the major offensive kicked off Saturday in Husayba, the Iraqi city on the Syrian border, military officials told CNN.

U.S. Marines, soldiers and sailors and Iraqi soldiers have been engaging in firefights with militants attempting to stand and fight. At least three Marines received minor wounds.

Forces proceeding into the southwestern part of the Anbar province town have found at least 30 improvised explosive devices, rigged to the houses and roads. Two suicide car bombs have been found.

In one case, a house was rigged so thoroughly with IEDs that the Marines decided to detonate it with a laser-guided missile.

Military officials said civilians have been evacuated to a secure sector of the city and have been provided food, blankets and heaters.

Marines Lt. Col. Dale Alford 3rd Battalion, in an interview with CNN, said the operation was launched "to liberate the town" and said it will continue until that is done.

The military believes Husayba has been taken over by insurgents and foreign fighters and used as a command center for operations, as well as the smuggling of weapons and foreign fighters into Iraq's population centers.

Once a thriving trade city of some 30,000 people, Husayba has been largely deserted. A crossing into Syria there has been closed for more than a year, and Husayba's population now numbers just a few thousand.

Alford said "we are steadily cleaning the city out" and have faced "pockets of resistance throughout the day."

"We'll continue to push and liberate this city," he said.

[indianrightwinger]

Good job. Now, I just wish it could proceed into Syria and not be constrained to the border area.

[bnelson44]

This is a clear and hold opperation (you can tell by the presence of the Iraqis). We won't be doing this again any time soon.

[Loud Mime]

Insurgents? Sounds like a washing machine.

[hermgem]

Get ready for MSN reports of how many women and children got killed.

[manwiththehands]

"In one case, a house was rigged so thoroughly with IEDs that the Marines decided to detonate it with a laser-guided missile."

That would have been so cool to see ...

[Chode]

Resistance Workers...

[Enchante]

On to Damascus!!! ooops, I guess the MSM and the Demagogic Party would not stand for any action to clean up the source of so much terrorism, they'd far rather see our people bleed until the MSM can try to force a Vietnam II.... which is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.