Sme 600 U.S. Marines and Iraqi troops have launched a fourth offensive against "insurgents" in less than a month in a western province in Iraq, the American army said Saturday.
Operation Scimitar commenced Thursday with targeted raids in the village of Zaidan, 20 miles southeast of Fallujah. So far, 22 suspected activists had been detained.
A U.S. Air Force Predator also conducted a strike Friday against gunmen near Qaem, on the Syrian border, the US military said. Two "insurgents" were killed, said Marine 1st Lt. Pamela Marshall, a spokeswoman, according to The AP.
Separately, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has issued a religious decree to collect 1 million signatures for a petition demanding U.S.-led foreign forces eave the country. Dozens of people, including young boys, signed the petition in the Sadr City in eastern Baghdad on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the head of Iraq's karate union also has been kidnapped south of Baghdad, sports officials said Saturday. Ali Shakir was nabbed Thursday afternoon in Latifiyah, about 20 miles south of Baghdad, while on his way home, said Ahmed Hashim, an Iraq Olympic committee official.
Also Saturday, gunmen in three cars killed police Capt. Saad Mihsin Abdul Sadah in Amiriyah, 25 miles west of Baghdad.
