Articles 5.11.2005

The current operation conducted by in western Al Anbar by the Marine Regimental Combat Team-2 (not affiliated with the 2nd BCT) is called Operation Matador. According to a Multi-National Force-Iraq news release, " The offensive is aimed at eliminating terrorist and foreign fighters from the area. The region, a known smuggling route and sanctuary for foreign fighters, is also used as a staging area where foreign fighters receive weapons and equipment for their attacks in the more populated key cities of Baghdad, Ramadi, Fallujah and Mosul." The Chicago Tribune (reg req'd) has a reporter embedded with the unit, who describes the resistence, and a second article describing following a unit in action, and a third article describing the evidence of foreign involvement with the resistence. Reuters reports that the recently appointed Governor of the Al Anbar Province was kidnapped on his way to Ramadi, allegedly by members of al Qaeda.
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In a Department of Defense news briefing, Lt. Gen. James T. Conway describes the nature of the insurgency in the Anbar province: "Recently, I think it's fair to say that the commanders have evaluated that the center of resistance in the Al Anbar has moved further west since the fall of Fallujah, and now is in what we would call the Ramadi-Hit corridor, extending westward, as opposed to Ramadi-Fallujah." Later, when asked if Iraqi troops were involved in Operation Matador, Lt. Gen Conway said "I think as you know, we do have Iraqi forces based at Habbaniya that are working both the Fallujah and the Ramadi area. At this point, those operational forces have simply not extended their reach far enough west to join the U.S. forces there. There are Iraqis operating in border forts along the borders. But in that interim area, they're simply not there yet."
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Other articles from the region:
- LA Times (reg req'd): Marines Push Into Rebel Areas on Day 3 of Offensive in West Iraq
- Christian Science Monitor: Search for patterns in insurgency
- AFP: Zarqawi group vows more jihad in Iraq: website
- USA Today: Injured Iraq veterans battle a new enemy