US Launches Major Offensive Against Sunni Insurgents (largest Air Offensive since 2003 invasion)

Guardian ^ | Thursday 16 March 2006

[IrishMike]

US launches major offensive against Sunni insurgents ....Thursday March 16, 2006 ....... More than 50 US warplanes were today involved in the biggest air offensive launched by the Americans in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, the US military said. A huge air and land offensive has been launched against Sunni insurgents in the restive town of Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad.....The US military said some 1,500 Iraqi and US troops and 200 tactical vehicles were involved in the operation, Reuters reported. The US military added that Operation Swarmer would last several days....Insurgents in Samarra, which is a predominantly Sunni town, stoked sectarian tensions last month by destroying a major Shia shrine, the Golden Mosque, prompting a wave of revenge killings and violence against Sunnis.

[IrishMike]

Them babies look like they are carrying a nice load too.

[BJClinton]

Update from AP via Yahoo!

*snip*

It is a key city in Salahuddin province, a major part of the so-called Sunni triangle where insurgents have been active since shortly after the U.S.-led invasion three years ago. Saddam Hussein was captured in the province, not far from its capital and his hometown, Tikrit.

*snip*

The operation, residents said, appeared to be concentrated near four villages — Jillam, Mamlaha, Banat Hassan and Bukaddou — about 20 miles north of Samarra. The villages are near the highway leading from Samarra to the city of Adwar.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Bingo, let the Iraqi troopers kick in the doors of the safe houses, if the LMSM "civilian causalities" occur, it is Iraqi on Iraqi.

[paul51]

The Americans can't do a very good job distinguishing the iraqi from the foreign insurgents and terrorists and the bad guys are able to blend in and hide under the surface. Having the Iraqis with them will solve this problem. In a brief conversation, the Iraqis can sort them out.

[paul51]

The villages are near the highway leading from Samarra to the city of Adwar.

That's one road you don't want to be on tonight.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Nice picture!!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sounds like a Z-man hunt!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

news here.

[gandalftb]

Some interesting lead-ups on this: Last week we announced the deployment of a full wing of AC-130 Spectres to Iraq, which were then used in this assault. Then, this week we announced the deployment of a battalion to Kuwait for preventative use during the coming Muslim pilgramage. That battalion freed up the 101st, whom are conducting this raid.
We have had many reports of Zarqawi in Saluh Din province since he was run out of al Anbar in late January by the Shura Council who named al Baghdadi their head instead.

Total blackout by the media, no inbeds, means they have a high value target and are doing a full area-wide cordon. Likely we have blanketed the target area with infra-red tonight to catch the rats making a run for it in the dark, that is Zarqawi's style.

There will be several days of sorting prisoners, getting them to rat out, and then going after new targets. Hunting season for the Screaming Eagles.


20 posted on 03/16/2006 10:44:52 AM PST by gandalftb

[Marine_Uncle]

"Sounds like a Z-man hunt!"
Perhaps more a hunt for remaining local insurgents in their many varieties as well as any al-Qaeda told to stay behind, or who had no where to sneak off to at this point, while Abu has fled eastward with his top lieutenants, and body guards.
For many months HUMIT most probably has been yielding how this attack would go. This time around we apparantly have the help of most if not all the tribal sheiks in and around ar Ramada, as well as the mayor and his government.
I will bet you in the process, more Iraqi police that where supporting the insurgency will now be in jail or popping up daisies, as well as the main designated targets.

[IrishMike]

Wouldn't it be nice to get that basta#d

[IrishMike]

....Iraqi police that where supporting the insurgency will now be in jail or popping up daisies.....

That needs close scrutiny too, a lot of these dirt bags in the 'police' force are nothing more that insurgents in uniform.

[IrishMike]

Thanks

[Marine_Uncle]

"That needs close scrutiny too, a lot of these dirt bags in the 'police' force are nothing more that insurgents in uniform."
Right on with that one as we are finding out. Zman's goons, Al Ansar, Saddamist insurgents etc., obtaining uniforms and going out and doing their dirty deeds. Of course in all humility we had read about these things a year back. It is not new.

[IrishMike]

A tactic at least as old as the 'trojan' horse

[Marine_Uncle]

"A tactic at least as old as the 'trojan' horse".
That is for sure.