Operation focuses on Syrian border

BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. and Iraqi security forces swept through an area near the Syrian border to root out foreign fighters Sunday, the second day of one of the largest military offensives since the U.S.-led war in 2003.

About 3,500 troops participated in the operation in the Qaim region, which the military dubbed "Operation Steel Curtain."

No U.S. or Iraqi troops were killed or wounded Sunday, the military said.

This is the second time in about a month that U.S.-led troops have stormed the expansive desert area in a full-fledged assault to find fighters linked to al-Qaida in Iraq.

The offensive began Saturday, with troops battling insurgents in Husaybah, essentially a suburb of the larger city of Qaim, about 200 miles northwest of the Iraqi capital.

"The combined force is clearing the city, house by house, as the al-Qaida in Iraq-led insurgents continue to plant improvised explosive devices throughout the city and fire on Marines and Iraqi army soldiers from homes, schools and mosques," the U.S. Marines said in a statement.

Iraqi officials have acknowledged that they are failing to stop fighters from crossing into the country from Syria. The fighters traverse the Euphrates River valley region, dispersing weapons and explosives, and then move on to the cities of Ramadi, Baghdad and Mosul. The officials have repeatedly criticized Syria for not doing more to control its side of the border, while noting that Iraqi troops are not yet adequately trained to do the job without U.S. support.

By Sunday afternoon, U.S. and Iraqi forces controlled seven of 11 neighborhoods in Qaim, witnesses said. At 10 a.m., the U.S. forces raided the neighborhoods and searched houses, digging up gardens in search of contraband. The soldiers found weapons caches and papers tied to the al-Qaida insurgency, the witnesses said.

"I think the town will be cleansed within three to four days," said Iraqi army Capt. Arkan Hussein. " Only small pockets of the fighters remained."

The U.S. troops called out on loudspeakers for residents remaining in the city to help the joint forces by informing on insurgents' hideouts and potential car bombs.

Mohammed Azzawi, a doctor at the Qaim hospital, said five civilians had been killed and nine wounded since the assault began. He said 13 civilians were missing and presumed trapped under wreckage.

The Marines said there had been no reports of civilian casualties. "Marines can confirm 17 insurgents have been killed since the operation began" on Saturday, the Americans said in a statement. "Many more are suspected of being killed, but Coalition forces haven't been able to confirm those numbers yet."

A statement reportedly from the al-Qaida group that was posted on a mosque in nearby Hadeetha claimed victory. "The heroes of al-Qaida are fighting and got what they wanted from the worshipers of the cross and the worshipers of the graves," the latter referring to Shiite Muslims, according to the statement.

Al-Qaida said nine of its fighters were killed. Four of them were foreigners, according to the group, backing up Iraqi military contentions that the insurgency is not solely made up of foreigners.

Al-Qaida in Iraq is led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian who has been behind some of the deadliest attacks, according to Iraqi and U.S. intelligence officers.

"Many of the attacks are done by remnants of the last regime and former Baathists in cooperation with the Zarqawi people," the chief of Iraq's intelligence service, Hussain Ali Kamal, said recently. "We can't totally control these operatives because the Iraqi forces are not qualified enough yet."