U.S., Iraq Troops Launch Baghdad Offensive

Guardian Unlimited ^ | 5/22/05 | PAUL GARWOOD

[TexKat]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. and Iraqi troops launched a major offensive against insurgents in Baghdad's western Abu Ghraib district late Sunday, and aides to a radical anti-American Shiite cleric worked to defuse tensions caused by a recent spate of sectarian killings.

Amid the violence, Iraq's government demanded that Syria do more to stop foreign fighters from crossing the porous border and a senior Iraqi Trade Ministry official was killed in an ongoing terror campaign that has killed more than 550 people in less than one month.

Iraqi authorities also announced that Ghazi Hammud al-Obeidi, 65, one of the most-wanted officials from Saddam Hussein's former regime, was released last month because he was apparently terminally ill.

Al-Obeidi, suffering from stomach cancer, was the former regional chairman of the ruling Baath Party in the southern Iraqi city of Kut. He was detained May 7, 2003, and released April 28, making him the first of the 55 most-wanted Iraqis to be freed. He was No. 51 on the most-wanted list.

In Baghdad, four battalions of Iraqi troops and three battalions of police backed by U.S. forces cordoned off areas of western Baghdad and searched ``suspected terrorist locations,'' a military statement said.

The offensive, called ``Operation Squeeze Play'' was launched to minimize insurgent activity in western Baghdad, the military said. It focused on areas from which militants have launched attacks, particularly against the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison.

An unspecified number of suspects were detained during the operation and were being held for further questioning, the statement said.

``Iraqi army and ministry of interior forces worked very well together and demonstrated good, solid fundamental skills today,'' said Col. Mark A. Milley, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

excerpt)<

[TexKat]

Operation Squeeze Play

[TexKat]

Operation Squeeze Play Ping!!

[TexKat]

Abu Ghraib area.

[SIDENET]

Somebody PLEASE squish Muqtada Al Sadr.

[TexKat]

U.S.-Iraqi offensive nets suspected rebels

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi troops launched a military offensive in Baghdad's western Abu Ghraib district late Sunday and detained an unspecified number of suspected insurgents, the military said.

Four battalions of Iraqi troops and three battalions of police backed by U.S. forces on foot and in military vehicles cordoned off areas across western Baghdad and searched "suspected terrorist locations," the statement said.

Operation Squeeze Play was launched to "minimize insurgent activity in western Baghdad," including Abu Ghraib, the military said, focusing on an area in which militants have launched numerous attacks, particularly against the U.S.-run detention facility located there.

The suspects were being held for further questioning.

The statement lauded the cooperation between the Iraqi army and interior ministry forces.

"Iraqi army and ministry of interior forces worked very well together and demonstrated good, solid fundamental skills today," said Col. Mark A. Milley, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

A major part of the U.S. exit strategy from Iraq is aimed at building up an Iraqi security force capable of maintaining order and combating the country's rampant insurgency.

[Bahbah]

Good. Go get 'em. We're praying for you.

[Americanexpat]

Al Sadr is a snake and he is raising his ugly head again. About time we chopped it off once and for all.

[Gucho]

The offensive, called ``Operation Squeeze Play''


Bump - Squeeze them til they're SQUASHED.

[TexKat]

From 2nd left, Muqtada al-Sadr's aide Hazim al-Araji, Muqtada al-Sadr's aide Abdul-Hadi al-Daraji, Senior Sunni Cleric Abdul Salam al-Kubaisi, and Muqtada al-Sadr's aide Nasir al-Saidi leave a meeting between the two religious groups at Baghdad's Sunni Um al-Qura mosque in Iraq Sunday, May 22, 2005. Man at left is unidentified. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Shiite's Aides Meet Sunnis to Ease Tension

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN Associated Press Writer

The Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq May 22, 2005 — Aides of a radical Shiite cleric met on Sunday with a key Sunni group seeking to ease sectarian tensions in Iraq, while gunmen killed a top trade ministry official as a spree of violence that followed the announcement of a new government entered its fourth week.

Iraqi authorities released Ghazi Hammud al-Obeidi, one of the most-wanted officials from Saddam Hussein's former regime, because he is apparently terminally ill, Justice Minister Abdel Hussein Shandal and the suspect's lawyer said Sunday.

Iraq's government also said it had captured a "terrorist" close to the network of militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who had planned car bomb attacks and rigged booby-trapped cars for foreign fighters.

Protesters Heckle Laura Bush in Jerusalem Why Insurgents Seek Victory by Suicide Bomb Full Coverage: Afghanistan

Separately, three Romanian journalists and their Iraqi-American guide who had been held hostage for nearly two months in Iraq were released.

Senior aides of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr met a key Sunni group in a bid to soothe tensions that have flared amid violence that has killed at least 550 people, including 10 Shiite and Sunni clerics, since the new Shiite-dominated government was announced on April 28. More

[SunkenCiv]

"Senior aides of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr met a key Sunni group in a bid to soothe tensions..."

s/b

"Muqtada al-Sadr, all his senior aides, and the various leaders of the Sunni mass-murdering cowards who backed Saddam to the hilt were meeting the other day, when a smart bomb crashed into the meeting place and detonated, killing every last one of the vermin. The rest of the population of Iraq cheered."

[AFPhys]

Way to go, Troops - And I mean YOU, TOO, Iraqi fighters!

Congrats on your new found freedom and independence!

Remember - there is only one way that free men can remain free - and that is if they are willing to fight and die for their country.

[freedom4me]

"Somebody PLEASE squish Muqtada Al Sadr."

Al Sadr should have gone down a long time ago. His days are numbered. The Iraqis are getting very tired of all the funerals. I'm getting tired of seeing the American flad desecrated. Sadr and company painted flags on the pavement the other day so Iraqis could walk on them--the ultimate insult. Remember when Saddam put a mosaic of George HW Bush's face at the entrance of a government building? Grrrr!

[Valin]

IRAQ THE MODEL
Monday, May 23, 2005
http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/2005/05/wolf-bites-again.html

The Wolf bites again.

A firm and decisive act against the terrorists in western Baghdad was expected to happen at any time.
This morning the expectations became facts. Here's the original story I saw this morning and it shows that something big was happening but Al-Iraqia TV had more detailed information.

According to Al-Iraqia TV, the Wolf brigade's intelligence elements successfully infiltrated the terrorist groups in the Abu Ghraib region and the information gathered this way paved the way for the latest operation which was done in two waves; the 1st raid was accomplished yesterday while the 2nd one started at 5 in the morning today and has just ended as Al-Iraqia reporter at the scene in Abu Ghraib said.
The successful raids which represent the largest operation performed by Iraqi forces so far had resulted in arresting 450 suspected terrorists.
The brigade depended mainly on its intelligence personnel who recognized the suspects' faces and pointed them out one by one.
The Wolf brigade did almost all the job with the multinational forces providing backup when needed.

Among the detainees was an "Amir" i.e. someone who beheaded at least 10 Iraqis. Also it's believed that the terrorist who lead the latest large attack on the prison in Abu Ghraib was also among those detained.

Abu Ghraib area has a special significance in the plans of terrorist groups and it's the joint between Baghdad and Anbar province (which includes Ramadi, Fallujah and Qa'im). This area hasn't tasted peace since the terrorists began their operations against Iraqis and coalition troops two years ago.
The area also hosts one of the biggest camps of the former Iraqi army; a factor that made it easy for terrorists to possess weapons and ammunition.

The raids ran smoothly and were clearly very well planned and implemented as no casualties happened among the soldiers of the Wolf brigade.
- posted by Omar @ 16:05

[TexKat]

Bump and thanks Valin.

[Valin]

Horray for ME!

[Marine_Uncle]

As usual thanks for the posts. Yet again, it is shown that slowly put surely the new Iraqi forces are actually fighting for their country. They continue to become more bold now that they actually have officers in place that where retrained in US SASO tactics etc.. They are becoming true leaders. And those under them sense what they are doing is truly the right thing for them to be doing. As more Battalions and Brigade units are formed and pick up experience, it is just going to be so much the harder for any armed resistance to be effective. The goal for the past year and a half has been to train a core officer corps.. By all indications fruit is starting to show. By this time next year they could have between 129K and 256K well armed, and equiped troops who will actually put the insurgency down if it is not finalized before then. And we must remember that as things go forward in the government, both at federal level and province, continued infrastructure rebuilding, increase of oil exports, more symphathy from the UN to actually encourage nations to contribute to Iraq's future, the Z-men and others look on with eyes for slits and wonder, what the hell is the use. They will not be able to overthrow the govenrment, because more and more Iraqis of all religous sects are starting to chip in regarding HUMIT and joining up to fight for their country. This is a truly unique happening in the mid east. And the demos and the L/MSM cannot do anything to prevent it from coming to past.