'Iraq braces for new attacks'

2005-10-04 22:54

Baghdad - Thousands of the United States troops widened their sweep for al-Qaeda insurgents on Tuesday in a new offensive along Iraq's Euphrates Valley, as Iraqi security forces braced for new attacks with the start of Ramadan.

The military said some 2 500 US soldiers launched a new operation in Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana, the largest such sweep in the western al-Anbar province this year.

The new offensive, codenamed River Gate, aimed "to deny al-Qaeda in Iraq the ability to operate in the three Euphrates River Valley cities and to free the local citizens from the insurgents' campaign of murder and intimidation."

It said: "Haditha is an important crossroads for (al-Qaeada in Iraq fighters') smuggling activities from the Syrian border."

4 US soldiers killed

The operation followed hot on the heels of Operation Iron Fist, another sweep by 1 000 US troops further up river, near the Syrian border.

The military said at least 33 rebels had been killed in this operation since it started on Saturday, adding that four US soldiers had been killed in fighting on Monday and a fifth had died of "gunshot wounds".

According to Pentagon figures, the latest American death brought to at least 1 931 the number of US military personnel killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion of March 2003.

The military said US and Iraqi security forces also sealed off a district of Ramadi, 110km northwest of Baghdad, which they begun to search.

Weapons, munitions

Some 400 Iraqi forces and 500 US soldiers were engaged in Operation "Mountaineers" in Tammin district "to disrupt insurgents in southern Ramadi who are transporting weapons and munitions into the city."

The military added: "The current operation will help establish a more secure environment for local citizens' forthcoming participation in the October 15 referendum."

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber exploded a car at a checkpoint leading into Baghdad's heavily fortified "green zone", which housed Iraqi government offices and the British and US embassies.

4 Iraqi soldiers killed

Security and medical officials said the explosion killed three Iraqis and wounded at least seven people, including five policemen.

The clashes, which lasted more than an hour and involved US armour and aircraft, took place near Yusufiyah, some 25km from the capital.

Baghdad's Yarmuk hospital said it had received the bodies of four Iraqi soldiers killed in the fighting, along with 14 who were injured.

Authorities were also expecting increased violence in the run-up to the October 15 referendum on a new constitution, meant to turn the page on the regime of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein who faced trial on October 19.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Sunnis started to observe the fasting month of Ramadan on Monday, with Shi'ites due to start on Wednesday or Thursday.

- AFP