Posted on 03/16/2006 8:21:25 AM PST by gandalftb
Baghdad, 16 March (AKI) - The US military has launched its biggest air offensive in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. A military statement said the operation involved more than 50 aircraft and 200 tactical vehicles and some 1,500 US and Iraqi forces. The operation targeted suspected insurgents operating near the town of Samarra, some 100 kilometres north of Baghdad. The focus of the raid is believed to be three villages northeast of Samarra where there are believed to be various Arab fighters as well as native Iraqi insurgents.
"Iraqi army and police forces, backed by U.S. helicopters launched a pre-dawn offensive against insurgents in the Jallam area from several directions," a source from Salahudin province told thje Xinhua news agency.
The attack targeted insurgents, including the al-Qaeda fighters in the open area between Samarra town to the south and the al-Dowr town to the north, and between Tigris River to the west and the Himrin mountains to the east, the source said.
(Excerpt) Read more at adnki.com ...
This location was likely the staging area for the failed "mini-tet" that was planned for the green zone. This is also Zarqawi's sandbox and unofficial reports place his location as a prime objective.
Since the Mujahaddin Shura Council recently dumped Zarqawi as its emir he is in real trouble from Baathist insurgents.
you should post this over here
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1597449/posts
A "mini-Tet."
The Islamists know the Old Media well --- that the Old Media by far the most effective weapon to use against America in this war.
Wow. If the 50 aircraft were just helicopters, could you imagine what a daunting sight that would have been?
Cripes! That movies freaks me out.
Finish 'em off, boys. Marvelous...someone finally has some backbone to step in and do something.
Hope we get Zarqawi this time instead of his numerous aides.
Let's pile the Jihadist bodies high and deep.
We're targetting towns outside of Samarra where intelligence showed there was a large concentration of al Qaeda fighters. Why would we pass on that target?
101st has inserted 4,000. AC-130 Spectres involved using infrared targetting tonight.
First one was really good. 2nd was pretty lame.
The Grudge was good too. I think all you need to make a scary movie is a very pale little girl that walks all herky jerky.
HOOAH, Eagles!
Screamin' Eagle Mom
ABOUT DARN TIME.... WE NEED TO BE DOING A LOT MORE OF THESE OPERATIONS.
KICK ASS
zip cuff, expedite to gitmo or eastern europe for interrogation :-)
PUC them all.
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.
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