new offensive in Fallujah
According to several news agencies, including a CNN.com report, an AP article from the Boston Globe and this Reuters report, air and ground attacks occured in Fallujah late Thursday, 10.14.2004. Some early details:
- organized by the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, under which the 2nd BCT operates.
- A Marine spokesman said "two infantry battalions -- one from the Marines and one from the Army -- were participating "in and near the city."
- attacks occured "after city representatives suspended peace talks with the government over Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's demand to hand over terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi."
- A Marine spokesman said the objectives are to "restore security and stability," and stated "It is going to be a long night." He would not say if it is the start of a major campaign to recapture the city.
- Reported attacks launched from warplanes and helicoptors, as well as armored vehicles.
- This is the first time U.S. forces have entered Falluja since a cease-fire in April.
According to an AP report, "a senior military official in Washington said the latest fighting was not the major invasion that [Prime Minister] Allawi has threatened."
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Additional reports from 10.15.2004:
- an AP Report indicates that bombing started Thursday, and by late Friday, planes where still flying but no explosions where recorded.
- Another AP story reports that "target hits included several key planning centers, a weapons transload and storage facility, two safehouses, a terrorist meeting site, and several illegal checkpoints used by the Zarqawi network."
- CNN.com reports that Iraqi special forces and U.S. Marines have set up check points around the city.
- A Multi-National Force of Iraq news release quotes: "Iraqi Security Forces and the Multi-National Force-Iraq coordinated their actions to locate, isolate, and defeat terrorist groups operating in the area of Fallujah... Operations in Fallujah will continue so long as terrorists remain in the city."
- An AFP report indicates more than 1000 troops have encircled Fallujah in order to trap insurgents. CNN.com quotes a military source as saying the ground troops have not entered the city.
- organized by the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, under which the 2nd BCT operates.
- A Marine spokesman said "two infantry battalions -- one from the Marines and one from the Army -- were participating "in and near the city."
- attacks occured "after city representatives suspended peace talks with the government over Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's demand to hand over terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi."
- A Marine spokesman said the objectives are to "restore security and stability," and stated "It is going to be a long night." He would not say if it is the start of a major campaign to recapture the city.
- Reported attacks launched from warplanes and helicoptors, as well as armored vehicles.
- This is the first time U.S. forces have entered Falluja since a cease-fire in April.
According to an AP report, "a senior military official in Washington said the latest fighting was not the major invasion that [Prime Minister] Allawi has threatened."
========================
Additional reports from 10.15.2004:
- an AP Report indicates that bombing started Thursday, and by late Friday, planes where still flying but no explosions where recorded.
- Another AP story reports that "target hits included several key planning centers, a weapons transload and storage facility, two safehouses, a terrorist meeting site, and several illegal checkpoints used by the Zarqawi network."
- CNN.com reports that Iraqi special forces and U.S. Marines have set up check points around the city.
- A Multi-National Force of Iraq news release quotes: "Iraqi Security Forces and the Multi-National Force-Iraq coordinated their actions to locate, isolate, and defeat terrorist groups operating in the area of Fallujah... Operations in Fallujah will continue so long as terrorists remain in the city."
- An AFP report indicates more than 1000 troops have encircled Fallujah in order to trap insurgents. CNN.com quotes a military source as saying the ground troops have not entered the city.
posted by Ryan Kirk @ 4:00 PM
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