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While Hunter completed two combat tours in Afghanistan as an active duty Marine, Nothstine was deployed to the Al-Anbar province of Iraq in early February 2005. Nothstine joined the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, India Company for his deployment in Iraq. As a crew chief on an amphibious assault vehicle, which is used to carry and support the infantry in combat operations through the cities and towns of Al-Anbar Province, he was part of numerous combat operations. Hunter deployed to Iraq in late August for his third military deployment but his first venture to Iraq. He, too, was attached to the...

US forces launched multiple air strikes against a suspected hideout of the Al-Qaeda terror network in the restive Al-Anbar province of Iraq near the Syrian border Friday, the US military said. Around 50 militants associated with Al-Qaeda frontman in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, were in a safe house in the border town of Husaybah at the time of the air strikes, it said. "The terrorists were using their position to attack the residents of the city with small-arms fire," it added. No casualty figures were immediately given. US marines based in Husaybah have seen an escalation in fighting between Zarqawi...

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Multi-national ground forces, acting on an Iraqi tip, discovered and destroyed a large cache of artillery shells in the early hours of Aug. 16. The shells were apparently intended for use as improvised explosive devices. An explosive ordinance disposal technician advised that the 25 to 30 individual 152mm rounds located inside a building within Al Anbar province be destroyed. Security forces confirmed there were no friendly or enemy personnel in the building. Security forces destroyed the building and its contents with an air strike after ensuring all non-combatants were clear of the area. Secondary explosions were observed....

AL ASAD, Iraq - (Aug 5, 2005) -- The Moonlighters of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332 joined the forward deployed 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Aug. 1 in support of stability operations in the Al Anbar province. The Moonlighters replaced the Bengals of VMFA(AW)-224. Both squadrons are based in Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C. “We are here to continue the work of our predecessors in support of the II Marine Expeditionary Force and the Marines on the ground as they fight to keep Iraq free,” said Sgt. Maj. Nicholas Bourikas, the squadron sergeant major. The Moonlighters’ efforts to support...

BAGHDAD, July 18 (KUNA) -- US fighter jets launched on Monday air attacks on locations suspected of being hideouts of insurgents in Rawa village, western Iraq. Both Iraqi and US forces took part in the un-named mission, launched early on Monday. Eyewitnesses said the US military launched a wide-scale operation in a number of locations in Rawa village, in Al-Anbar constituency. In another development, Iraqi security forces found a large weapon hideout in Mosul, north of Iraq, an Iraqi official said. The hideout included a large quantity of missiles, communication devices, military uniforms, knives and swords, the official added.

<p>KARABILAH, Iraq — U.S. Marines and Iraqi forces battled insurgents on two fronts Saturday in a restive western province, killing about 50 militants in a dusty frontier town in the military's latest campaign to stop foreign fighters infiltrating from neighboring Syria (search).</p>

RAMADI, Iraq - The deputy commander of the Iraqi army in western Al-Anbar province was shot dead by US troops at a checkpoint Tuesday night, a police officer said. "The US forces opened fire at 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) on Brigadier General Ismail Swayed al-Obeid, who had left his base in Baghdadi to head home," police Captain Amin al-Hitti said. "They spotted him on the road after the curfew, which goes into effect at 6 pm," the officer said in Baghdadi, 185 kilometres (142 miles) west of the capital. No immediate reaction was available from the US military. US...

ALARM - Four American soldiers killed in the west of Baghdad BAGHDAD - Four American soldiers were killed Friday at the time of operations of combat in the rebellious Al-Anbar province, in the west of Baghdad, announced the American army Saturday.

Father receives letter Thursday from Kolda, killed by blast Dec. 1 Six days before he was killed in Iraq, Zachary Kolda told his family that he was blessed to be their son, brother and husband and to be fighting for his country. The 23-year-old Marine corporal from Corpus Christi posted what would be his final message on the family's Web site Thanksgiving Day. "I have a wonderful, loving family I have the honor to be married to the most beautiful (mind, body, soul) person I've ever known," he wrote. "I have the honor of defending the greatest nation ever created...

Spirit of America, led by Jim Hake [raised] money to equip six Iraqi TV stations in Al Anbar province. The project was led there by the First Marine Expeditionary Force and the Army.... The Spirit of America's Iraq democracy project came together.... The pro-freedom Iraqi bloggers [posted]their delightful account of a first-ever trip beyond Iraq's borders... at iraqthemodel.com. Other Iraqis... are willing to take personal risks to educate the Iraqi people about the meaning and purpose of democracy before that January election date.... To get the word out, the Friends of Democracy plans to use all available media. Plans so...

I don't read obituaries. Never really have. Yet for some reason, every day I read the casualty list on page A2 of the paper. I skim over the names and then take note of the total. When it finally hit 1,000, all the major media showcased the grisly milestone. I knew that number would be highlighted. The media was trying to put faces and names to all those deaths. But for me, I didn't need to get to number 1,000. Number 958 was what froze my speeding eyes in their tracks: Nachez Washalanta II, private first class, U.S. Marine Corps....

My latest analysis of the situation in Iraq. Moderately long. Click on the Major to get there, or on the link. Be Seeing You, Chris

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces and insurgents clashed in the restive Iraqi province of Al-Anbar on Wednesday, killing 10 Iraqis and wounding six, health ministry officials said. Al-Anbar includes the western cities of Falluja and Ramadi, which have fallen into rebel hands. U.S.-led forces have launched an offensive in Al-Anbar to retake pockets under the control of insurgents in time for elections due in January 2005. Washington says Falluja and Ramadi have become a haven for fighters loyal to Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for a wave of suicide bombings and the killings of foreign hostages.

BAGHDAD, Sept 15 (Reuters) - A U.S. marine has been killed in action while conducting security operations in the restive province of Al-Anbar, west of Baghdad, the U.S. military said on Wednesday. The military said the incident took place on Tuesday but declined to give further details. At least 765 U.S. soldiers have been killed in action in Iraq since the start of the war. The total U.S. military death toll is at least 1018.

Security Watch in Iraq U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Keoni K. Hui-Hui, a mortarman with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, keeps a steady hand on his M-16A4 service rifle during a vehicle-mounted patrol through Al Kharma, Iraq, Aug. 1, 2004. Marines use the patrols, checkpoints and ambushes to kill or capture terrorists in Al Anbar Province. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen llllllllllllll  Marines with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, make their way up a ladder to take their turn on post for compound security at a forward operating base just outside Al Kharma,...

The governor of the province sunnite of Al-Anbar (western of Iraq) resigned after having obtained the release of his three sons, removed eight days ago. Mr. Abdel Karim Berges affirmed with the AFP to have decided to resign after its three sons, old from 15 to 30 years, had been slackened after one week of captivity in Falloujah. It specified not to have paid a ransom but to have reached at the request of the kidnappers to leave his station. The caïmacan (sub-prefect) of Ramadi, Mohammed Abed Awad, took its place.

Four more United States marines have been killed in action in Iraq's restive Al-Anbar province, the US military said, taking its death toll in the region to 14 in just over one week. US officials suspect alleged Al Qaida militant Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi and his supporters are operating in Fallujah and surrounding Al-Anbar province. "Four marines assigned to First Marine Expeditionary Force were killed in action July 6 in the Al-Anbar province while conducting security and stability operations," the US military said in a statement. US-led military forces have carried out several air raids over the past week on...

Six US servicemen have been killed in a mortar attack on a military base in the restive western Iraqi province of Al-Anbar, according to a military spokesman. More to follow...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents killed eight U.S. soldiers in various attacks in the past two days, the U.S. military said in a statement on Sunday. The deaths and attacks had not previously been reported. Four 1st Armored Division soldiers were killed in two separate attacks on April 9 in Baghdad, the statement said, while three 1st Infantry Division soldiers were killed and two wounded in an ambush near Tikrit, north of Baghdad the same day. On April 10th, a Marine was killed as a result of fighting in the al-Anbar province west of Baghdad.

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 March 5, 2004Release Number: 04-03-11 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Al Anbar leaders hold, plan rallies to denounce terrorist attacks Ar Ramadi, Iraq -- Local leaders held a peaceful demonstration outside the government center here Wednesday to denounce the recent terrorist attacks in Baghdad and Karbala. Several speakers at the event blamed outside influences wishing to cause conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq. The attacks were labeled anti-Islam by several of the religious leaders who attended. Attendees chanted "Sunni and...