Skip to main content
U.S. Edition
Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WORLD
Iraq Transition

Offensive finds little resistance, many bombs

Marines battle insurgency in Euphrates River town

From Arwa Damon and Jennifer Eccleston
CNN

SPECIAL REPORT

• Interactive: Who's who in Iraq
• Interactive: Sectarian divide

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

Marines
Iraq

HADITHA, Iraq (CNN) -- An eerie quiet was interrupted Wednesday by Marines exploding some of the 32 bombs they have found as they attempt to wrest this Euphrates River town in western Iraq from insurgents.

Marine commanders said the offensive -- Operation River Gate -- has encountered very little resistance so far.

They said insurgents are probably lying low, looking for targets once the military has established its presence in the Sunni area about 125 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad.

Lt. Col. Chet Chessani, who is in charge of the offensive for the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Division, said he expected to see attempts at suicide car bombings and rocket-propelled grenade attacks.

So far, no Marines have been killed inside the city during the operation.

Marines and Iraqi soldiers have launched several anti-insurgent operations during recent months in western Iraq, including three in recent days ahead of the October 15 referendum on the Iraqi constitution.

The offensive focused around Haditha includes the neighboring cities of Haqlaniya and Darwana. Launched Tuesday, it comprises about 2,500 U.S. troops and 400 to 500 Iraqi security force soldiers.

Haditha was the site of violence earlier this year. In August, a roadside bomb near the city killed at least 14 Marines and a civilian interpreter.

In April, insurgents abducted 20 Iraqi soldiers, took to them to the town's soccer stadium, and shot them to death.

Marines on the latest offensive have had little trouble finding what they call improvised explosive devices in Haditha, where they have dubbed a highway in the southeastern sector "IED alley."

Most are hidden under asphalt on the highway. A Marine described one as "the mother of all IEDs," saying it was made up of artillery shells on top of propane gas tanks stuffed with gunpowder.

Haditha residents are huddling in their houses, afraid to go outside for fear they will be caught in the crossfire between insurgents and the Marines.

With the city's market closed and food supplies running out, the Muslim fast during the holy month of Ramadan has taken on a new dimension.

"The U.S. forces said they were here to free us from Saddam, but now I am a prisoner in my own home," said one resident.

Marines assured him it was OK to leave his house if he wanted.

The Marines said they hope that the new Iraqi army can follow them into Haditha, a town the U.S. military has said has been a crossroads for insurgent fighters coming into Iraq.

Another resident, a one-time Iraqi army officer under Saddam, said he would welcome a permanent Marine and army presence in the city.

"There is slaughter here by men in black masks," he said.

Most civilians appeared to be cooperating with Marines who are searching some houses.

In one instance, residents were pointing out bombs to the Marines.

Marines said they had detained 19 people so far. Nine of those were specific targets the Marines wanted to capture; the other 10 were seized based on information provided by detainees or residents.

"The resistance is a lot less than we expected," said operations officer Maj. Samuel Carrasco. "We thought there would be some, but we think they expected us to come in from a different direction -- north or south. But we came in from west."

Another factor, he said, is that the Marines came into the city on foot, not in trucks and armored vehicles.

Story Tools
Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Issues of Time! cover
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
CNN U.S.
CNN TV E-mail Services CNN Mobile CNNAvantGo Ad Info About Us Preferences
Search
© 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map.
Offsite Icon External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pipeline Icon Pay service with live and archived video. Learn more
Radio News Icon Download audio news  |  RSS Feed Add RSS headlines