Monday, June 30, 2003
Big U.S. RaidsTarget Fighters in Central Iraq
From: spliffslips
War Blog Iraq War Update Sidewinder
--------------------
Big U.S. RaidsTarget Fighters in Central Iraq
--------------------
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
June 30, 2003
Camp Boom, Iraq - U.S. forces kicked off a massive sweep yesterday, raiding more than 20 towns across a wide swath of Iraq and netting at least 60 suspects in a show of air and infantry power designed to crush resistance and stem a wave of deadly attacks on American troops.
The raids by the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse troops came as the U.S. civilian administrator of Iraq said American forces must kill or capture Saddam Hussein so he can no longer be a rallying point for anti-coalition attacks.
The latest operation began at 2 a.m. local time across an area of central Iraq stretching from the Iranian border to areas north of Baghdad. It is expected to last for several days, according to military officials in Camp Boom, near Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad.
The region has become "the nexus of paramilitary activity in central Iraq," the military said in a statement.
There were no reports of U.S. casualties, the military said, nor was there any indication that the operation had netted any of the most-wanted Iraqi fugitives.
"We go in with such overwhelming combat power that they won't even think about shooting us," Lt. Col. Mark Young said before the start of the operation.
The raids targeted loyalists from Hussein's former Baath Party, "terrorists suspected of perpetrating attacks against U.S. forces and former Iraqi military leaders," the military said.
At least 63 American soldiers have died in Iraq since major combat was declared over May 1, close to one-third of them killed in attacks, raising the total U.S. death toll to more than 200 since the March 20 start of the war. Some 42 British forces have died.
The American forces arrested a man in Khalis, 45 miles north of Baghdad, suspected of recruiting others to launch attacks on U.S. troops. In Dojima, police raided the homes of alleged Hussein loyalists they suspected of hiding arms, including rocket-propelled grenades - the weapon used in many recent ambushes.
The military also announced the arrest Saturday of 15 suspects in Mosul, in northern Iraq, confiscating Baath Party documents and Republican Guard uniforms, as well as weapons.
Insurgents have stepped up their attacks against U.S. troops in recent days, carrying out ambushes against military convoys, shooting soldiers and lobbing grenades. U.S. officials in Washington have said repeatedly that no centralized Iraqi resistance to American rule remains, but commanders on the ground suggest some organization.
Young called the resistance in areas northeast of Baghdad "an organized effort." Capt. John Wrann, also involved in the new operation, said: "It's got to be a coordinated thing."
The top U.S. official in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, stressed the need to capture Hussein. "I think it is important that we either catch him or kill him," Bremer told the BBC. "There is no doubt that the fact that we have not been able to show his fate allows the remnants of the Baath regime to go around the bazaars and villages and say Saddam will come back, so do not cooperate with the coalition."
Bremer said progress was being made in restoring basic services to the country such as health care, water and power. He said Baghdad now had 18 to 20 hours of electricity a day and that law and order would soon be restored. "Am I satisfied? No," Bremer said. "We will do our best, and we will succeed. I do not know when that will be."
Copyright (c) 2003, Newsday, Inc.
--------------------
This article originally appeared at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woiraq303353034jun30,0,6032851.story
Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com
|
War Blog Iraq War Update Sidewinder
--------------------
Big U.S. RaidsTarget Fighters in Central Iraq
--------------------
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
June 30, 2003
Camp Boom, Iraq - U.S. forces kicked off a massive sweep yesterday, raiding more than 20 towns across a wide swath of Iraq and netting at least 60 suspects in a show of air and infantry power designed to crush resistance and stem a wave of deadly attacks on American troops.
The raids by the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse troops came as the U.S. civilian administrator of Iraq said American forces must kill or capture Saddam Hussein so he can no longer be a rallying point for anti-coalition attacks.
The latest operation began at 2 a.m. local time across an area of central Iraq stretching from the Iranian border to areas north of Baghdad. It is expected to last for several days, according to military officials in Camp Boom, near Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad.
The region has become "the nexus of paramilitary activity in central Iraq," the military said in a statement.
There were no reports of U.S. casualties, the military said, nor was there any indication that the operation had netted any of the most-wanted Iraqi fugitives.
"We go in with such overwhelming combat power that they won't even think about shooting us," Lt. Col. Mark Young said before the start of the operation.
The raids targeted loyalists from Hussein's former Baath Party, "terrorists suspected of perpetrating attacks against U.S. forces and former Iraqi military leaders," the military said.
At least 63 American soldiers have died in Iraq since major combat was declared over May 1, close to one-third of them killed in attacks, raising the total U.S. death toll to more than 200 since the March 20 start of the war. Some 42 British forces have died.
The American forces arrested a man in Khalis, 45 miles north of Baghdad, suspected of recruiting others to launch attacks on U.S. troops. In Dojima, police raided the homes of alleged Hussein loyalists they suspected of hiding arms, including rocket-propelled grenades - the weapon used in many recent ambushes.
The military also announced the arrest Saturday of 15 suspects in Mosul, in northern Iraq, confiscating Baath Party documents and Republican Guard uniforms, as well as weapons.
Insurgents have stepped up their attacks against U.S. troops in recent days, carrying out ambushes against military convoys, shooting soldiers and lobbing grenades. U.S. officials in Washington have said repeatedly that no centralized Iraqi resistance to American rule remains, but commanders on the ground suggest some organization.
Young called the resistance in areas northeast of Baghdad "an organized effort." Capt. John Wrann, also involved in the new operation, said: "It's got to be a coordinated thing."
The top U.S. official in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, stressed the need to capture Hussein. "I think it is important that we either catch him or kill him," Bremer told the BBC. "There is no doubt that the fact that we have not been able to show his fate allows the remnants of the Baath regime to go around the bazaars and villages and say Saddam will come back, so do not cooperate with the coalition."
Bremer said progress was being made in restoring basic services to the country such as health care, water and power. He said Baghdad now had 18 to 20 hours of electricity a day and that law and order would soon be restored. "Am I satisfied? No," Bremer said. "We will do our best, and we will succeed. I do not know when that will be."
Copyright (c) 2003, Newsday, Inc.
--------------------
This article originally appeared at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woiraq303353034jun30,0,6032851.story
Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com
