Iraqi, U.S. Troops Begin 'Phantom Fury' in Fallujah

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2004 -- Iraqi and U.S. forces began their long-awaited
assault today against insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, in an operation dubbed
"Phantom Fury."

According to various news reports, thousands of soldiers and Marines have
moved
into Fallujah neighborhoods believed to be harboring the most insurgents.
Earlier, Iraqi troops took two bridges and a hospital in northern Fallujah,
Multinational Force Iraq officials said today. Officials described the
situation around the insurgent stronghold as "fluid."

Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi gave the go-ahead for Iraqi and
U.S.
forces to rid the city of insurgents and foreign terrorists. In a news
conference today in Baghdad, Allawi said his government is determined to
drive
the terrorists out of Fallujah. He said he makes this move after all
peaceful
means to solve the problem have not worked out.

"I have given my authority to the Iraqi forces to spearhead the attacks,"
Allawi said.

On Nov. 7, the prime minister declared a state of emergency in all of Iraq
except for the Kurdish-controlled area in the north.

The Iraqi 36th Commando Battalion took the bridges and hospital today and
detained 38 men.

Marine artillery and U.S. aircraft have hit terrorist hideouts in the city.
Pentagon officials said Marines and soldiers in the area have observed
secondary explosions after the strikes. This often signifies that ammunition
or
explosives were at the site that was struck, officials explained.

Coalition forces are hitting anti-Iraqi forces where they show themselves.
News
reports indicate U.S. Marines and soldiers are firing mortars and artillery
at
concentrations of insurgents and foreign terrorists.

The offensive in Fallujah is one of the most telegraphed military operations
in
history. That is by design, said Pentagon officials. The city normally has a
population of about 300,000. With all the warnings, officials estimate that
between 50,000 and 60,000 people are left in the city. Even so,
Multinational
Force Iraq officials report terrorists in the city are preventing families
from
leaving Fallujah. According to residents, terrorist plan to use citizens as
human shields, then claim they were attacked by friendly forces.

News accounts said that officials estimate between 5,000 and 6,000
insurgents
and foreign terrorists are in the city.

Multinational Force Iraq officials have received reports that terrorists in
Fallujah are building a system of tunnels joining mosques and schools within
the city. The tunnels reportedly would be used to transport weapons and
ammunition throughout protected sites in the face of the Multinational Force
assault.

Under international law, mosques are granted protected status because of
their
religious and cultural significance. However, such sites lose their
protected
status when insurgents use them for military purposes.

The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force is in command of coalition and Iraqi
forces
at the city. The 1st Marine Division and U.S. Army armored units from the
1st
Infantry Division -- along with Iraqi allies -- stand ready on the northern
part of the city, news accounts said.

Related Sites:
Multinational Force Iraq [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/]
1st Marine Expeditionary Force [http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/]
1st Infantry Division [http://www.1id.army.mil/]
1st
Marine Division
[http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/test.htm?http&&&www.cpp.usmc.mil/1MarDiv/]
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Related Articles:
Iraqi Prime Minister Issues
State of Emergency Throughout Country
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_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2004/n11082004_2004110805.html.



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