Massive US air attack on Samarra posted by bat020

US launches major offensive against Sunni insurgents

More than 50 US warplanes were today involved in the biggest air offensive launched by the Americans in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, the US military said.

A huge air and land offensive was launched this morning against insurgents in an area north-east of the volatile town of Samarra, which is 60 miles north of Baghdad.

The US military, which announced details of the operation late this afternoon, said some 1,500 Iraqi and US troops and 200 tactical vehicles were involved in Operation Swarmer, which it said would last several days.

The operation began with Iraqi and US forces conducting a combined air and ground assault before forces from the 2nd Commando Brigade seized buildings in the area.