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| Iraq |
| U.S. Launches Major Offensive in Iraq |
| 2005-11-05 |
| The American military launched a major offensive near the Syrian border on Saturday aimed at destroying al-Qaida in Iraq's ability to smuggle in foreign fighters, money and equipment. The feared insurgent group warned foreign diplomats to flee Iraq after announcing it would kill two kidnapped Moroccans. The offensive of about 2,500 Marines, soldiers and sailors in the town of Husaybah will remove insurgents from the western province of Anbar ahead of Iraq's parliamentary election on Dec. 15, the military said. An unspecified number of Iraqi forces were taking part. The offensive is part of a larger ongoing U.S. military operation designed to deny al-Qaida in Iraq the ability to operate in the Euphrates River valley, which stretches through Anbar province, and to establish a joint permanent security presence along the Syrian border. "Operation Steel Curtain marks the first large-scale employment of multiple battalion-sized units of Iraqi army forces in combined operations with coalition forces in the last year," the military said. Husaybah is located near the border town of Qaim and is about 200 miles west of Baghdad. The Dec. 15 election and the training of new Iraqi forces are aimed at one day allowing U.S. forces to begin withdrawing from Iraq. Insurgents killed 11 Iraqi security troops and an American soldier in separate attacks. The warning to foreign diplomats came in a statement posted on an Islamist Web site in the name of al-Qaida in Iraq, which also claimed responsibility for the July kidnap-slaying of two envoys from Algeria and one from Egypt as well as the abduction and beheading of many foreign hostages. On Thursday, another Internet statement attributed to al-Qaida said the two Moroccan Embassy employees had been condemned to death. There was no indication Friday that they had been killed. "We are renewing our threat to those so-called diplomatic missions who have insisted on staying in Baghdad and have not yet realized the repercussions of such a challenge to the will of the mujahedeen," Friday's statement said. "Let them know that there is no difference in our judgment between the head of a diplomatic mission and the lowest-level employee." The al-Qaida threat appeared aimed at undermining support for the U.S.-backed Iraqi government within the Arab and Islamic worlds. In addition to the Egyptian and Algerian diplomats, senior envoys from Pakistan and Bahrain escaped kidnap attempts in July. Also Friday, the U.S. military announced it killed five senior al-Qaida figures during an airstrike Oct. 29 against three buildings in Husaybah, a town near the Syrian border that is a major infiltration route for foreign fighters and would-be suicide bombers entering the country. The five included at least one North African and were holding a strategy meeting when the airstrike occurred, the U.S. statement added. Iraq was relatively quiet Friday as the majority Shiite Muslim community began celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Sunnis began the three-day holiday Thursday. Still, the country was not free of violence. Insurgents fired mortars at an Iraqi police checkpoint near Buhriz, a Sunni Arab stronghold 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, then stormed the position firing from eight vehicles, police said. Six policemen were killed and 10 were wounded, according to officials. Five Interior Ministry commandos died when a roadside bomb exploded close to their convoy near Tuz Khormato, 130 miles north of Baghdad, police Brig. Gen. Sarhad Qadir said. Four commandos were wounded. An American soldier from Task Force Baghdad was fatally wounded Thursday when a roadside exploded near his convoy in east Baghdad, the military said. Another soldier died Thursday near Talil, 170 miles southeast of Baghdad, apparently of non-hostile causes, the military said. The deaths brought to 2,042 the number of U.S. military service members who have died since the war began in 2003, according to an Associated Press count. Elsewhere, insurgents fired a mortar round that missed an American base on the western outskirts of Baghdad but struck a home, killing a child and wounding the mother and another one of her children, police 1st Lt. Ahmed Ali said. Gunmen shot and killed Tarik Hasan, a former colonel in the Iraqi air force, as he drove through Baghdad on Thursday, said police Capt. Talib Thamir. Rumor has spread through Baghdad that Shiite "hit squads" are hunting former air force officers, especially those who fought Shiite-led Iran during the 1980-1988 war. Despite the security crisis, families turned out in parks around the capital, putting aside their fears to celebrate the Eid holiday. In the Shiite district of Sadr City, children lined up for rides at small amusement parks. Security by police and local militias remained tight to protect people from bombs and drive-by shootings. "We cannot fully enjoy Eid because of all the explosions we hear," said Karar al-Aboudi, 25, owner of a stall near one park. "We have no reason to celebrate under occupation and terrorism. We pray to God that in the next Eid, our country will be stable and free." |
| Posted by:Captain America |
| #8 If you recall, a good many of those Iraqi airframes never saw the first Gulf War. Brave muzzies that they were they high tailed it to Iranian sactuary early on. Oh, Captain Fezuli, you would now like to reside in Iran, have we got a deal for you! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-11-05 15:16 |
| #7 Elvis, I've been asking myself the same question. Saddam's fly-boys were instrumental in gassing Iranians and in gassing Kurds, if you follow the revenge angle. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-11-05 13:16 |
| #6 Precisely Elvis, they have no Air Force at the present time. Excellent assessment. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-11-05 12:45 |
| #5 Gunmen shot and killed Tarik Hasan, a former colonel in the Iraqi air force, as he drove through Baghdad on Thursday, said police Capt. Talib Thamir. Rumor has spread through Baghdad that Shiite "hit squads" are hunting former air force officers, especially those who fought Shiite-led Iran during the 1980-1988 war. Who is directing this effort and why? Vengeful Shiia Iranian Red guard who know we're going to need the Iraqi air forces to back us up when we crush Iran? Or Southern Iraqi Shiia who were put down by these same pilots in 1991 during the Shiia uprising. This is the great mystery from theis article that I'd like answered. Sounds more like the Red Guard to me putting a message out there for the Shiia community that actions against Iran will be punished Iraq or no Iraq. EP |
| Posted by: ElvisHasLeftTheBuilding 2005-11-05 11:00 |
| #4 As they say for speeches ...start well and end well. This reporter had a little something for everyone. For Americans and Iraqis The American military launched a major offensive near the Syrian border on Saturday aimed at destroying al-Qaida in Iraq's ability to smuggle in foreign fighters, money and equipment. For Anti Americans and Terrorists The feared insurgent group warned foreign diplomats to flee Iraq after announcing it would kill two kidnapped Moroccans[oooh...feared in the face of 2,500 Marines] For Americans and Iraqis families turned out in parks around the capital, For Anti-Americans and Terrorists We have no reason to celebrate under occupation and terrorism. [But you are celebrating, now aren't you? No doubt this one gloomy quote represented the viewpoint of all present] |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-11-05 09:47 |
| #3 Go get 'em guys! From the reports I've seen, the Iraqi units are getting better and better. Right now, they are most likely the best arab force in the region. Not close to western armies, but gaining rapidly. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-11-05 09:43 |
| #2 This sounds like a brigade ftx that becomes a permanent deployment. First the place is thoroughly cleared, and the brigade gets to know its turf on the ground, each and every building and useful terrain feature. Then, right behind them come the engineers, to build whatever facilities they need for permanent camp in the area. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-11-05 08:31 |
| #1 This should be heavily trimmed down to the content that matches the headline. The good stuff: "U.S. military operation designed to deny al-Qaida in Iraq the ability to operate in the Euphrates River valley, which stretches through Anbar province, and to establish a joint permanent security presence along the Syrian border. "'Operation Steel Curtain marks the first large-scale employment of multiple battalion-sized units of Iraqi army forces in combined operations with coalition forces in the last year,' the military said." Excellent. Good Hunting. |
| Posted by: Regnad Kcin 2005-11-05 03:55 |