[michigander]

US-Iraqi forces launch offensive against insurgents in Samarra

2006-03-16 20:31:34

TIKRIT, Iraq, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The U.S. and Iraqi troops waged on Thursday a large-scale offensive against insurgents in a sprawling open area northeast of Samarra, 120 km north of Baghdad, a local provincial security source told Xinhua.

"Iraqi army and police forces, backed by U.S. helicopters launched a pre-dawn offensive against insurgents in the Jallamarea from several directions," the source from Salahudin province said on condition of anonymity.

The attack targeted insurgents, including the al-Qaida 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.

Local residents name the main road linking Baghdad and Mosul the "death road" as it passes through the targeted area. The offensive against insurgents came amid the recent security deterioration in Iraq.

[Jay777]

More... According to the Coalition Press Information Center, initial reports indicate that a number of enemy weapons caches have been captured, containing artillery shells, explosives, IED-making materials, and military uniforms.