IRAQ: UNITED STATES-LED TROOPS MOUNT MAJOR OFFENSIVE

Record ID: 338234

  • Title: IRAQ: UNITED STATES-LED TROOPS MOUNT MAJOR OFFENSIVE
  • Date: 10th September 2004
  • Summary: (W4) TAL AFAR, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 9, 2004)(REUTERS) 1. SLV U.S. TROOPS AND IRAQI NATIONAL GUARDS MANNING CHECKPOINT AT ENTRANCE TO TOWN; SLV U.S. ARMOURED VEHICLES HEADING TO TOWN 2. SLV AMBULANCE AT CHECKPOINT 3. SLV PEOPLE, IN THE DISTANCE, WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT, FLEEING FIGHTING IN TOWN (EU) MOSUL, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 9, 2004) (REUTERS) 4. SLV EXTERIOR HOSPITAL IN MOSUL; MV WOUNDED IN HOSPITAL AFTER CLASHES IN TAL AFAR 0.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 25th September 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVADECR693MHR0O694HC8RP78DEU
  • Story Text: U.S.-led troops mount major offensive in Tal Afar, Iraq.

    U.S.-led forces launched operations in three Iraqi rebel
    strongholds on Thursday (September 9), killing nearly two dozen insurgents in
    a town near the Syrian border and bombing targets in Falluja for the third
    straight day.

    Troops mounted a major offensive in Tal Afar, a suspected haven for
    foreign fighters about 100 km (60 miles) east of the Syrian border in northern
    Iraq, and went into the tense town of Samarra north of Baghdad, as well as
    keeping up pressure on Falluja, west of the capital, through air strikes.

    The fighting in Tal Afar killed 22 insurgents and wounded more than 70
    people, a local government health official said.

    "The situation is critical," Rabee Yassin, general manager
    for health in Nineveh province, told Reuters. "Ambulances and medical
    supplies cannot get to Tal Afar because of the ongoing military
    operations."
    There were no immediate reports of any U.S. or Iraqi government
    casualties in the fighting which local government sources said had killed 57
    since Saturday (September 4).

    U.S. forces said the assault was in response to provocation after they
    and Iraqi security forces "were repeatedly attacked by a large terrorist
    element that has displaced local Iraqi security forces throughout recent
    weeks".

    "These attacks by terrorist groups included rocket-propelled
    grenades, small arms fire, mortars and roadside bombs, and resulted in
    civilian casualties," the military said.


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