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BAGHDAD: Around 10,000 US and Iraqi troops launched a major air and
ground assault on al-Qaeda networks in and around the restive city
of Baquba, northeast of Baghdad, on Tuesday, the US military said.
“Task Force Lightning commenced Operation
Arrowhead Ripper today in a large-scale effort to eliminate al-Qaeda
in Iraq terrorists operating in Baquba and its surrounding areas,”
it said in a statement.
“Approximately 10,000 soldiers, with a full
complement of attack helicopters, close air support, Strykers and
Bradley Fighting Vehicles, are taking part in Arrowhead Ripper,
which is still in its opening stages.”
The military said the assault was launched with
a rapid night-time air assault and that by daybreak 22 militants had
been killed.
“The end state is to destroy the al-Qaeda
influences in this province and eliminate their threat against the
people,” said US commander Brigadier General Mick Bednarek.
Bednarek said the operation was aimed at helping
local Iraqi ministries to provide basic services, which “will
build trust and confidence of the people not only in the provincial
government, but in the central government as well.”
As US-led troops have pressed a four-month-old
surge of troops into the capital insurgents have fanned off into
surrounding areas, especially Diyala province, of which Baquba is
the capital.
In recent months the province has been the
battleground for intense fighting between US-led forces, Shiite
militias, and Sunni insurgents. Thousands of civilians have been
killed and many thousands more have fled.
--AFP
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