U.S. military launches operation against al Qaeda/Iraq (10,000 US and Iraqi )

[Yrys]

Operation Arrowhead Ripper will ultimately involve about 10,000 soldiers

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/18/iraq.main/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. military early Tuesday launched a "large-scale" operation against
al Qaeda in Iraq militants in the Baquba area, north of Baghdad, killing at least 22 enemy fighters, the Army
said in a statement. "The end state is to destroy the al Qaeda influences in this province and eliminate their
threat against the people," said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek of the 25th Infantry Division. "That is the number
one, bottom-line, up-front, in-your-face, task and purpose."

Operation Arrowhead Ripper will ultimately involve about 10,000 soldiers and "a full complement of attack
helicopters, close air support, Strykers and Bradley Fighting Vehicles."

The operation is in its opening stages, according to the military.

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US launches major Iraq offensive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6766217.stm

Night-time assault

In Diyala, Operation Arrowhead Ripper began overnight with troops being brought in by helicopter.
Tanks and armoured vehicles were also used on the ground, with Apache helicopter gunships providing air cover.

"Task Force Lightning commenced Operation Arrowhead Ripper today in a large-scale effort to eliminate
al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating in Baquba and its surrounding areas," the US military said.

An Iraqi soldier guards suspected militants in Baquba

"The end state is to destroy the al-Qaeda influences in this province and eliminate their threat against the
people," said US commander Brig-Gen Mick Bednarek. Local sources said there was heavy fighting in the
west of city, which has become an al-Qaeda stronghold in recent months, as troops tried to take control.

Iraqi troops broadcast messages on loudspeakers telling people to stay indoors, but a number of wounded
and dead civilians were soon taken to the city's hospital, officials told the BBC. The head of the emergency
services in Baquba said his ambulances were not being allowed into the area to pick up other casualties
and there were fears that the numbers would rise.

The US military said the operation's chances of success have been improved by information provided by
former insurgents. "Over the past several weeks, we've seen that a number of the former insurgent
groups, Sunni groups, are actually growing very tired of the al-Qaeda influence in the province - tired to
the point where they're giving coalition and Iraqi security forces information that has been very helpful,"
US Sgt Thomas Clementson told the BBC.

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