Posted by
Cary Wesberry on Saturday, May 10, 2008 3:59:16 PM
In the northern city of Mosul, an Iraqi army commander announced the start of a long anticipated offensive against Al Qaeda in Iraq's last urban stronghold.
Maj. Gen. Riyadh Jalal Tawfiq, the commander of military operations in the northern city of Mosul, issued a statement on Saturday announcing Operation Lion's Roar and Righteousness Battle against Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Mosul was considered the last important urban staging ground for Al Qaeda in Iraqi and allied groups after losing strongholds in Baghdad and other areas during the U.S. troop "surge" last year.
Provincial forces are "undertaking a new phase of operations in Mosul to counter the terrorist threat there," said Maj. John C. Hall, a military spokesman in Baghdad. "These operations build on operations that have been under way for the past several weeks, targeting Al Qaeda in Iraq cells."
He added that "this Iraqi-planned and Iraqi-led series of operations continues to be closely supported by Coalition forces."
In January, Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki promised his military was preparing for a "decisive" showdown with insurgents in Mosul, about 225 miles northwest of Baghdad. But no major offensives were mounted, even as Al Qaeda in Iraq tried to exert its influence in Iraq's third-largest city through attacks and intimidation until now.
On Friday evening, Iraqi officials imposed an indefinite vehicle ban in the northern province of Nineveh, which includes Mosul. Brig. Gen. Khalid Abdul-Sattar, the provincial security spokesman, said Friday the ban was prompted by intelligence that Sunni insurgents might carry out car bombings.
This is great news. The last real stronghold of al-Qaeda in Iraq is about to be freed from terror. My prayers and faith in victory go out to our soldiers and the members of the Iraqi Army participating in this operation. May they kill every single al-Qaeda terrorist in Mosul. Send them back to Allah gentlemen!