US army raids al-Qaeda base
2005-09-11 14:05
Baghdad - The US army said it launched a joint operation with Iraqi security forces against a suspected al-Qaeda "safe haven" in the restive western province of al-Anbar.
The operation in Rutbah, which lies on the highway to Jordan, came as US and Iraqi forces pressed on with an offensive against insurgents in Tal Afar in northern Iraq near the border with Syria.
"Operation Zobaa (Cyclone) began in the early morning hours with the objectives of rooting out al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating within the area and disrupting insurgent support systems in and around the city," the US military said.
"For the past several months, terrorists within Rutbah have escalated their intimidation and murder campaign against the local populace and city government officials," it said in a statement.
- AFP