Articles 2.24.2005

Updated 14:25 cst

An American Forces Information Service News Release reports on an interview with Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Myers discusses Operation River Blitz: "Myers said Operation River Blitz, which kicked off Feb. 20 to help increase security in and around Ramadi and throughout Iraq's Anbar province, is focusing on areas where insurgents are intimidating the local population and trying to prevent a peaceful transition of power between the interim Iraqi government and the Iraqi transitional government. Members of the 1st Marine Division of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and Iraqi security forces stepped up security operations in the region, introducing a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and controlling access into the city. The province "has been a problem area," Myers said, subject to two primary threats he said make up the insurgency: Zarqawi-type extremists with jihadist ties and former regime elements made up largely of Sunni extremists. Also a threat, he said, are "hired guns," who support the insurgency for purely economic reasons, and criminals."

Reuters reports that residents in Ramadi "have started to flee the city following the latest offensive launched by US Marines and the Iraqi army." Other quotes:
- "Government offices and shops have closed and people are having difficulties getting food supplies as the offensive came quickly and without warning, giving them no time to prepare."
- "A government official from the city, who wished to remain anonymous, told IRIN that they expected the situation to get much worse, especially in some areas of Ramadi where insurgents were putting up a strong fight. He added that most government officials had already left the city."
- "Firdous al-Abadi, a spokeswoman for the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS), told IRIN that many people had been trapped in the university and inside mosques for over 48 hours as fighting raged outside."
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Posted 08:00 cst
The El Paso Times has an article on a wounded Marine in Ramadi. Sgt. Luis Aranda (who's unit wasn't given, but has been in Ramadi since September), "suffered second- and third-degree burns on his right arm, hand and other parts of his body during hostile action in Iraq's Anbar province" on 2.23.2004. He has been evacuated to Germany, and is scheduled to be flown to the Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio tomorrow. According to the article, "Sgt Aranda's family said they heard he was wounded with four other Marines, possibly in a suicide bombing while they were doing roadside checks."
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Articles on Operation River Blitz:
A CENTCOM press release confirms that the 2nd BCT is involved with operations "in and around the city of Ramadi", although no specifics are given. Since the operation began on 2.20.2005, U.S. and Iraqi forces have detained 87 suspected terrorists, and the press release lists hundreds of munitions items found.

Reuters reports that "U.S. forces used warplanes and an AC-130 gunship" in the town of Haqlaniya, northwest of Ramadi. "U.S. forces also detained 29 insurgents and seized several weapons caches in Anbar, the military said. Marines are also continuing operations in the western stronghold of Ramadi, the military said." A separate Reuters article reports on an unnamed Marine unit in Haqlaniya.

The Christian Science Monitor has an article with the 1/23 Marines conducting operations in the city of Hit.
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Other articles from the region:
- Newsday: Where is al-Zarqawi?
- AFP: Students protest extra day off
- LA Times (via Concord Monitor): Prisoners' confessions air on TV