IRAQ: SILENCE SURROUNDS FALLUJA AS U.S. FORCES WORK TO CLEAR REMAINING RESISTANCE

Record ID: 649244

  • Title: IRAQ: SILENCE SURROUNDS FALLUJA AS U.S. FORCES WORK TO CLEAR REMAINING RESISTANCE
  • Date: 12th December 2004
  • Summary: (U3) FALLUJA, IRAQ (DECEMBER 12, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV U.S. SOLDIERS ON FOOT PATROL OF JOLAN NEIGHBOURHOOD 0.04 2. SLV SOLDIERS POINTING GUNS DOWN ALLEY WAY 0.12 3. SLV SOLDIER ON FOOT PATROL ON ROAD WITH DEMOLISHED BUILDINGS 0.17 4. MCU OF SOLDIER POINTING GUN DOWN ALLEY 0.25 5. SV SOLDIER STANDING AT ROADSIDE AS MILITARY VEHICLES DRIVE BY 0.42 6. SV SOLDIERS ON FOOT PATROL ON ROAD WITH DEMOLISHED BUILDINGS 0.51 7. SLV DEMOLISHED BUILDING WITH SOLDIER WALKING IN FRONT 0.55 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: FALLUJA, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVAEJC2S1PI50VU9M3LAPXJJ0DF2
  • Story Text: Silence surrounds Falluja as U.S. forces work to
    clear remaining resistance



    U.S. forces patrolled parts of the western city of
    Falluja on Sunday (December 12), as silence surrounded the
    city that was the scene of fierce fighting in recent weeks.

    On foot and in military vehicles, U.S. troops swept into
    the deserted Jolan neighbourhood, northeast of the city,
    which was once a stronghold of insurgents. They cleared the
    city of weapons and flushed out remaining insurgents ahead
    of the anticipated return of residents.

    The United States hopes the searches will deprive Iraq's
    guerrillas of their main base and weapons point, putting a
    lid on suicide bombings, shootings and kidnappings.

    U.S. forces also cleared debris left from demolished
    buildings. Marines still face resistance in Falluja, where
    many buildings were reduced to piles of rubble.

    U.S. forces are maintaining a cordon around Falluja as
    sporadic fighting continues and are preventing residents
    from returning, saying they want to stagger the return so
    that basic facilities can be restored before people go home.

    U.S. air strikes, artillery barrages and infantry
    operations wrested control of Falluja this month. The
    military said they killed over 1,000 foreign Muslim
    militant fighters and insurgents loyal to toppled Iraqi
    leader Saddam Hussein.

    More than 200,000 civilians fled the city before the
    assault, but some remained, and have complained of
    shortages of food and supplies.

    Many of them are living in camps outside the city and
    have demanded to be allowed to return home as soon as
    possible. But the extent of the devastation in Falluja may
    spark further anger towards U.S. forces when they do. The
    U.S. military has not said when it will allow refugees back
    into Falluja.

    Officers are reported to planning to use iris scans and
    fingerprints to screen males of a fighting age who try to
    re-enter the city.


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