US troops raided the town of Fallujah west of Baghdad early Sunday, hunting for suspected “militia leaders” and searching for illegal weapons in a massive operation.
Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade targeted locations where intelligence reports indicated “militia” operations were underway or weapons stockpiled for use against US forces. The operation was called "Spartan Scorpion."
The thrust against the city, some 55 kilometers from the capital Baghdad lasted only three hours - shorter than expected - and met no resistance, according to AP.
One of three task forces involved in the operation reported only one arrest, of a man driving during curfew hours bearing a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
The raids across Fallujah by Task Force 3-15, Task Force 1-64 and Task Force Enforcer — using over 1,300 soldiers started at around 3 a.m., just three hours after a deadline for Iraqis to turn in heavy weapons under an amnesty program.
On Saturday, warnings were broadcast on mosque loud speakers that the US probably would raid Fallujah after the amnesty ended. During the raid, Iraqis sounded sirens and flashed their porch lights in apparent warning to each other that the American troops were coming.
Iraqi and US military police said Saturday that few Iraqis were handing over weapons under the amnesty program because of the fragile security situation. On the final day before the deadline, weapons collection centers were quiet.
The array of arms handed in — 162 anti-tank rocket launchers, 11 anti-aircraft weapons and hundreds of assault rifles and handguns — represented a fraction of the weapons believed to be in Baghdad's streets.
As the program ended, the American civilian administrator of Iraq Paul Bremer, warned that anyone found with an unauthorized weapon from Sunday on could be jailed for up to a year and fined.
Iraqis were permitted to keep small arms, including assault rifles, in their homes and businesses for their own protection, but could not carry them in public, said Bremer's order, published after midnight.
Meanwhile, to demonstrate the readiness of American troops to help residents, a major delivery of humanitarian aid was scheduled for later Sunday. Cargo trucks were standing by to deliver loads of medical and school supplies, as well as toys for children. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
