About 1,000 US troops backed by Iraqi soldiers have launched a counterinsurgency operation in the western Iraqi province of Anbar.

Gunmen attacked a bus carrying Iraqi soldiers today, kidnapping 15 National Guardsmen and leaving the vehicle in flames.

A suicide bomber blew up a car at a police checkpoint in western Iraq today, killing seven government security force members and injuring nine.

A car bomb exploded today at a police checkpoint in western Iraq, killing and injuring several members of the security forces, police said.