Posted on 11/11/2005 8:03:31 AM PST by Valin
US and Iraqi troops started a large-scale operation in a flashpoint western Iraqi city near the Syrian border on Wednesday following a similar offensive in a nearby town, the US military said on Friday. "Iraqi army soldiers and US forces have begun clear-and-hold operations in the city of Karabilah near Husaybah town, close to the Syrian border," the US military said in a statement.
The offensive is the continuation of Operation Steel Curtain, which was staged by the US-Iraqi forces in Husaybah, as intelligence services said some insurgents, driven out of Husaybah, fled to nearby Karabilah. On Tuesday night, the US military announced the end of Operation Steel Curtain in Husaybah, but said that the Iraqi forces were preparing for a permanent security presence in the area to prevent insurgent re-entry.
Since entering Karabilah on Wednesday afternoon, US and Iraqi forces have met with sporadic small-arms fire and improvised explosive devices, and two suspected car bombs were also discovered in the area, said the statement. "On Thursday, Coalition Forces discovered a house wired with numerous explosives. Fifteen explosive rounds were found inside the walls and a 40-pound charge was also discovered in the floor of the building," the statement added.
About 3,500 US and Iraqi soldiers participated in Operation Steel Curtain, which started on Nov. 5, in the western al-Anbar province. The large-scale offensive was aimed at eradicating al- Qaida fighters and restoring security in the region.
good, it has a calming effect on me,a more meaningful word than capturing
Doogle
or 'bring to justice'. Let the eradication continue.
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