26 February 2005 -- U.S. military forces today moved onto a sixth day of what they call Operation River Blitz, aimed at increasing security in Iraq's western Al-Anbar province.
The military said it arrested 51 people yesterday and 155 since the start of the operation last week. A statement says one U.S. Marine was killed in Al-Anbar yesterday.
Also yesterday, Iraq's interim government announced it had captured what it described as a key aide to insurgent leader Abu Mu'sab al-Zarqawi. The government said the aide, Abu Qutaybah, was captured last week near the border with Syria.
On the political front, Iraq's powerful Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani yesterday endorsed conservative Islamic Al-Da'wah party leader Ibrahim al-Ja'fari for the post of prime minister. The endorsement comes as political leaders are negotiating Iraq's next government following the country's 30 January elections.
(AP/Reuters/AFP)
Also yesterday, Iraq's interim government announced it had captured what it described as a key aide to insurgent leader Abu Mu'sab al-Zarqawi. The government said the aide, Abu Qutaybah, was captured last week near the border with Syria.
On the political front, Iraq's powerful Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani yesterday endorsed conservative Islamic Al-Da'wah party leader Ibrahim al-Ja'fari for the post of prime minister. The endorsement comes as political leaders are negotiating Iraq's next government following the country's 30 January elections.
(AP/Reuters/AFP)