Operation Iron Hammer pursues al-Qaida

BAQOUBA , Iraq, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. military officials say coalition and Iraqi forces launched a major offensive Tuesday against al-Qaida in northern Iraq called Operation Iron Hammer.

Officials say the operation was an effort to set the conditions for the possibility of a continued reconciliation in the region by exploiting previous successes against al-Qaida. Operation Iron Hammer brought together three U.S. brigades and three Iraqi units, the Multi-National Force-Iraq reported.

“This operation is a relentless pursuit of al-Qaida, who we have seen attempting to move into new areas and disrupt the security of the local populace,” Army Brig. Gen. Jim Boozer, one of the U.S. deputy commanders involved in the operation, said in a statement.

“Our intent is to continue to pressure this group, disrupt their operations and deny them safe havens in the region. We want to ensure the citizens of Iraq have the opportunity to step up and continue to secure their neighborhoods and get their cities back to normal.”

Additionally five alleged terrorists were killed and 30 others were captured in an effort to disrupt al-Qaida networks northwest of Baqouba and west of Tarmiyah, Iraq. Officials say one of the suspects killed in Baqouba was wearing a suicide vest.

Coalition forces uncovered several munitions during the raids including grenades and small-arms weapons.

“We are continuing a steady drumbeat against al-Qaida’s leadership,” said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman. “Our operations are diminishing terrorists’ ability to attack the Iraqi people.”