Operation "River Gate"

"U.S. Marines on Tuesday launched their biggest offensive this year against al Qaeda guerrillas in western Iraq"

Codenamed River Gate, "The offensive centered on Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana, Sunni cities located in the Euphrates River valley".

"Flames from U.S. air strikes illuminated the skylines of the three cities."

"Bridges across the Euphrates River between Haqlaniyah and Haditha were bombed to prevent insurgents from using them."

"most of the neighborhoods of all three cities were under control of the joint forces by late afternoon."

"86 suspects were detained. Two large weapons caches were discovered."

"Meanwhile, Operation Iron Fist, another assault launched four days ago in the Qaimregion of Anbar province near the Iraqi-Syrian border continued, as troops searched for fighters connected to al Qaeda in Iraq who freely roamed the streets of Sadah and surrounding towns."

The offensives in western Iraq "aim to put down Al Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni-led insurgent groups that have waged a campaign of violence aimed at wrecking a crucial Oct. 15 national vote on a new constitution".

--LynZee