US says launches biggest air assault in Iraq

Posted on: Mar. 16th, 2006 || Source: today.reuters.co.uk | E-mail Article | Print Article

Today the U.S. military announced it has launched its biggest air offensive in Iraq since the 2003 invasion to root out insurgents near the town of Samarra, 100 km (60 miles) north of Baghdad.

"Operation Swarmer", as the offensive is called, was launched on Thursday morning and is "expected to continue for several days as a thorough search of the objective area is conducted".

The Associated Press recently reported the US Air Force moved heavily armed AC-130 airplanes to a base in Iraq to counter the Iraqi resistance. Although the special forces command controlling the AC-130's had declined to comment on the deployment of the AC-130's, it is probable the Gunships are being used in this new offensive as they were previously used in Operation Enduring Freedom and the assault on Fallujah, in 2004.

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