Forces launch attack in western Iraq

Posted: 19:43 AEST

US forces, backed by helicopters, launched another big offensive in the far west of Iraq near the Syrian border on Saturday to hunt militants linked to Al Qaeda, the US military said.

Around 1,000 marines, soldiers and sailors launched Operation Iron Fist in the early hours against insurgents in the town of Qaim, 12 km from the Syrian border, and nearby settlements including Sedea.

It is at least the third major offensive US forces have conducted in the area over the past four months.

Previous operations appear to have failed as insurgents have quickly returned to reoccupy the towns.

"Operation Iron Fist began in the early morning hours with the objectives of rooting out Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating within the area and disrupting insurgent support systems," Marine Captain Jeffrey Pool said in a statement.

"For the past several months, terrorists within Sedea have escalated their intimidation and murder campaign against the local populace and city government officials," he said.

Iraqi police in the area said convoys of US military vehicles rolled into Qaim and nearby towns, including Karabila and Sedea, in the early hours, following attacks by helicopters.

A doctor in the main hospital in Qaim, Amir al-Obedi, said 10 people had been killed and eight wounded in fighting.

He said relatives of the wounded told him they had been attacked by US helicopters in Sedea, a town near Qaim.

The latest attempt comes ahead of a referendum on October 15 when Iraqis will vote on a new draft constitution opposed by many in the Sunni Arab minority.

-Reuters

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