Major US air assault in Iraq underway

The US military has launched its biggest air offensive in Iraq since the 2003 invasion.

A military statement said that the operation, which involves more than 50 aircraft and 1,500 Iraqi and US troops, is targeting suspected insurgents operating near the town of Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad.

Two-hundred tactical vehicles are also taking part in the operation.

The US military says it has already captured a number of weapons caches, containing artillery shells, explosives, bomb-making materials, and military uniforms.

There is no immediate word on casualties.

The US statement said "Operation Swarmer" was launched this morning and is "expected to continue for several days as a thorough search of the objective area is conducted."

Read it all in The Daily Telegraph here: US launches massive Iraq air assault

Und von der Neuen Zürcher Zeitung:

Luft- und Bodentruppen im Einsatz

Die amerikanische Armee hat im Irak nach eigenen Angaben den grössten Luftangriff seit ihrem Einmarsch in den Golfstaat vor gut drei Jahren gestartet. Mehr als 50 Maschinen sowie 1500 irakische und amerikanische Soldaten seien an der Offensive beteiligt.

Den Artikel im ganzen hier lesen: USA starten im Irak grösste Offensive seit Einmarsch

Mark