US launches air attack to root out insurgents

THE US military yesterday launched its biggest air offensive in Iraq since the 2003 invasion to root out insurgents near a town where recent violence raised fears of civil war.

Announced with media fanfare just hours after Iraq’s parliament held a brief first meeting that did nothing to end a political stalemate over forming a government, the US military said 50 aircraft were taking part in the raids north of Baghdad.

The US military released photographs of troop-carrying Black Hawk helicopters lined up in a row for the offensive. There were no pictures of warplanes.