US Army Targets Insurgents With "Operation Spear" (moved from ATSNN), page 1

This morning brought the sound of falling bombs and fierce gun battles to western Iraq, along the Syrian border, as Operation Spear, a 1,000+ US troop movement, targeting uprooted insurgents who had fled Falluja during last Novembers US offensive. Up to nine 500lb (220kg) bombs where dropped by F-16 fighter-bombers, targeting Insurgent safe houses and weapon stores in Qaim as well as their supply roots. The Muslim Clerics Association in Qaim called for shop owners to stay closed in protest, as they say the action endangered civilian lives. Also today a car bomb in south-east Baghdad exploded near a full truck which resulted in the death of four people.

news.bbc.co.uk
The US military has launched a major offensive involving some 1,000 troops to root out insurgents and foreign fighters in western Iraq.
Heavy gun battles could be heard as Operation Spear got under way in the early hours in the restive province of Anbar on the border with Syria.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

So it looks like payback time, after this week, which left 11 US soldiers dead and several car bombings in which several civilians where killed and left many more injured. It is however too early to tell how successful today’s action has been, and wither of not it have any effect on the insurgency, however the timing of the attacks, which was just after Friday prayers has come under criticism for endangering civilians, as is in the past the accuracy of US bombing may not have been the best.

Related News Links:
news.bbc.co.uk
Reuters.com

[edit on 17/6/2005 by 300k]