Posted on 11/23/2004 7:38:32 AM PST by anonymoussierra
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Some 5,000 U.S. Marines, British troops and Iraqi commandos launched a new offensive Tuesday aimed at clearing a swath of insurgent hotbeds south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
The joint operation kicked off with early morning raids in the town of Jabella in Babil province, netting 32 suspected insurgents, the U.S. military said in a statement. Jabella is 50 miles south of Baghdad.
Insurgent violence has increased in the areas south of the capital in "an apparent attempt to divert attention" away from the U.S-led assault on the militant stronghold of Fallujah, the military said.
The cluster of dusty, small towns located south of the capital, has been a major area for insurgent activity. U.S. and Iraqi forces have come under repeated attacks by car bombs, rockets, and small arms fire in the area.
The region has become known as a "triangle of death" for the numerous attacks by Sunni Muslim insurgents and criminal gangs on Shiites, Westerners and members of the Iraqi security services.
In the past three weeks, Iraqi troops and Marines have detained nearly 250 insurgents in the area, the statement said.
They have been aided by British forces from the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch Regiment, who were brought into the area from southern Basra to aid American forces in closing off militant escape routes between Baghdad, Babil province to the south and Anbar province to the west.
It would be the third major military offensive against insurgents since the massive Fallujah operation, which has claimed the lives of more than 50 U.S. soldiers and injured more than 400.
Earlier this month, the northern city of Mosul witnessed a mass insurgent uprising in apparent support of Fallujah's guerrillas. Some 2,400 U.S. troops were sent in to retake control over western parts of the city.
bttt
The Brits are aiding us, good show! And it's good news that the Queen introduced new bills in Parliament to strengthen the war on terror.
"But according the anti GW armchair generals on Free Republic, we don't have enough troops to do this.
They are as vile as the MSM."Thank you good STRONG! America President! good STRONG America Persons in Iraq! make big good America country strong that is good!!!
Gosh, I hope they get all of the insurgents with this offensive.
Be strong America good person!!!Thank you
Replace the embed's cameras with rifles and make them check the 'dead' enemies for grenades. If they balk, send their sorry a$$es home.
bttp
thank you
IMO, these people cannot be assimilated into Iraqi society anymore.
They should be made an example of...in response to the cold-blooded executions of the kidnapped victims.
2 security rounds into the back of the head will make the area much safer.
What type of weapon is the soldier in the top left picture carrying?
I think when they say 'net 32' they mean something like:
Ran into 215
Killed 183
Net insurgents captured: 32
No, but you might want to keep them alive if they could tell you where the other cockroaches are hiding!
What is this crap?
NO PRISONERS!
bttt
But how old is this thread?!?
May their aim be true and their bullets be swift. Godspeed to the heroes of the coalition.
Prairie
Thank you
I hope when they 'net them' they don't practice catch and release!
"What type of weapon is the soldier in the top left picture carrying?"
A big hole puncher. The big moose behind him probably carries extra ammo and the radio to alert them that enemy snipers or just Islamodumbos are near.
We know a man whose son is a Seal Sniper with a 50 cal weapon. His son barely made the height minimum. He has adopted a Moose to carry extra ammo, communication gear and other items.
What weapon is the big hole puncher in the top picture?
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