70 Gunmen Killed, Scores Detained In Diala - U.S. general
Baaquba, 26 June 2007 (Voices of Iraq)
U.S. and Iraqi forces killed more than 70 gunmen and arrested scores others during the Operation Arrowhead Ripper in Diala province, a senior U.S. army officer said on Monday.
“More than 70 gunmen were killed and scores others were detained in the operation,” said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek , the 25th Infantry Division’s deputy commander for operations told reporters via a videoconference on Monday.
“25 weapons depots have been found so far, in addition to destroying a big factory for making car bombs,” he also said.
“The joint Iraqi and U.S. forces are facing big challenges in the province because al-Qaeda members are spreading through out Diala,” he added.
“Between 15 to 16 Iraqi army brigades are participating in the operation, in addition to police forces,” Bednarek said, noting that additional Iraqi forces will join the military operation in Baaquba in the upcoming weeks.
Operation Arrowhead Ripper is a security campaign in which more than 10,000 U.S. and Iraqi soldiers are taking part.
It is aimed at hunting down members of the so-called al-Qaeda Organization in Iraq and other armed groups controlling the greater part of Diala province, 57 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. IraqUpdates