- US and Iraqi forces have launched an offensive to drive
insurgents out of the northern Iraqi town of Talafar, the US military has
said.
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- Hospital sources say at least 17 people have been killed
in the fighting and 51 more wounded.
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- The operation follows clashes last week in the town,
described by US military as "a hotbed of militant activity".
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- In Falluja, west of Baghdad, US troops fired missiles
at alleged militant sites, killing at least seven people.
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- A statement from the US military said the attack had
been on a site used by supporters of the Jordanian militant, Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi, who the Americans say is an important member of al-Qaeda.
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- However, several women and children were among the dead
and wounded pulled from the rubble, doctors said.
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- The US military has been fighting insurgents in the town
for several days, since a car bomb killed seven marines on Monday.
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- 'Civilians targeted'
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- The BBC's Caroline Hawley in Baghdad says Falluja and
Talafar are among several towns in Iraq that are now in rebel hands.
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- Joint US and Iraqi forces began a seven-hour bombardment
of Talafar at 0200 local time (2200 GMT Wednesday).
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- Clashes were also reported in two neighbourhoods of the
town, situated more than 400 km north of Baghdad. Fighting is said to be
continuing.
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- "The operation comes after MNF [multinational forces]
and Iraqi security forces were repeatedly attacked by a large terrorist
element that has displaced local Iraqi security forces throughout recent
weeks," a statement by the US military, quoted by Reuter news agency,
said.
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- At least nine people died last week and dozens were wounded
after joint operations to destroy an alleged militant cell.
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- A US helicopter was brought down injuring two crew.
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- According to US military officials, Talafar had become
a haven for militants crossing into Iraq from the nearby border with Syria.
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- Attacks by militants over the last weeks had targeted
civilians as well as security forces, the US military adds.
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- © BBC MMIV http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3640146.stm
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