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| Iraq |
| Major Joint Offensive South of Baghdad, 8,000 troops |
| 2007-07-16 |
| Up to 8,000 troops are involved in a new US-led offensive against al-Qa'ida-linked fighters south of Baghdad, according to military statements. Iraqi forces are also participating in the offensive, the according to US forces, who announced a major sweep in the Euphrates River valley, in Babel Province, the US military has announced. The military has not identified with precision the location or expected duration of the operations, which began early Monday morning when helicopter-borne troops landed in an area 22 miles south of Baghdad, in the Euphrates River valley. The sweep, launched in predawn raids Monday, is dubbed “Operation Marne Avalanche.” According to English-language media reports, the stated goal of the operations is to tighten the security cordon around Baghdad, according to military statements. US commanders said they aim to cut off a southwestern supply route into the capital, running from western Anbar province through Babil province into Baghdad, Reuters writes. The military said in a statement that the new sweep was "aimed at preventing the movement of weapons, munitions and insurgents into Baghdad." However, an Arabic-language agency reports that the US military has said the aims of the operation are broader than just shutting off a supply line to Baghdad. Al-Melaf reports in Arabic that a US military spokesperson, Maj. Alan Conway, stated that the aims of the operation are “clear the Euphrates valley” of militant fighters, and that the US was targeting weapons caches “in and around the areas falling south of Baghdad.” Al-Melaf reports that the operation targets areas around the Iraqi city of Juruf al-Sakhir, al-Melaf reports in Arabic, between the eastern area of anbar province and the North-western areas of Babil province. The Euphrates Valley area is considered one of the principal al-Qa'ida strongholds in the country, falling within the so-called “triangle of death” south of Baghdad. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #1 'Marne' means 3ID is running it. |
| Posted by: Brett 2007-07-16 20:04 |