DoD briefing mentions Operation River Blitz

A Department of Defense briefing provides information on the current Operation River Blitz in the Anbar province. Some key quotes:

- "Coalition forces and Iraqi security forces continue to maintain pressure on the insurgents intent on trying to stop forward progress in Iraq. Over the weekend, in the Al Anbar province Operation River Blitz targeted insurgent strongholds, resulting in the discovery of several weapons caches. This operation is another example of how combined Iraqi and coalition forces are able to conduct offensive operations to disrupt insurgent activities."
- Question: "General, Operation River Blitz, we're told it's, as you say, in Anbar province -- Ramadi and three cities along the Euphrates. How does this operation measure up in scope to the November operation against Fallujah? What are we talking about in numbers of the 1st Marine Division and the number of Iraqi security people involved? And in addition to the dusk-to-dawn curfew, what else can you tell us about the operation?
GEN. RODRIGUEZ: That's basically it. A dust-to-dawn curfew, which was put in there. And there's -- as far as the difference between Fallujah and now, this is one of significantly lesser degree, obviously, with both participants of the 1st Marine Division and the Iraqi security forces. But it's the same -- it's focused on the same thing, which is to get rid of the insurgents who are preventing security in Al Anbar province along those four cities along the river, which is why they named it River Blitz."
- The briefing also covers questions on the size of the Army and the status of Iraqi security forces.
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Separately, an AP News Photo shows soldiers manning a checkpoint near Ramadi. Although not obvious, the shoulder patch looks like it could be 2nd ID - further evidence of 2nd BCT involvement.