US military operation continues in Iraq

US forces were fighting for a fourth day today in Iraq as they tried to stamp out resistance by supporters of Saddam Hussein’s former regime.

American war planes bombed what officials described as a “terrorist training camp” about 90 miles north-west of Baghdad yesterday.

A fierce ground battle followed in which Iraqi forces suffered heavy casualties. Some reports said at least 70 were killed. One American soldier was wounded, US Central Command said.

A US military spokesman in the Iraqi capital refused to give details, but said the operation was continuing today and that more fighting was possible.

US Gen Richard Myers said American forces were sifting through intelligence that “foreign fighters” may have been at the camp.

If true, it would be the first sign that volunteers from other Arab nations were still in Iraq since the war was declared effectively over on May 1.

Asked about Iraqi casualties in the battle, Myers said: “There were many killed – a large number.”

“It was a tough fight. They were well trained or well equipped, and clearly well prepared for this,” he said.

“This is one of the many types of groups that we are going to have to confront, I think, for some time to come,” he added.

Before the war, Iraq claimed thousands of Arab fighters had poured into the country to fight the US-led invasion.

They provided some of the stiffest resistance once American forces entered Baghdad.

Also yesterday, Iraqi fighters shot down a US Apache helicopter gunship – the first American aircraft downed by hostile fire since Saddam’s regime fell two months ago.

A US F-16 fighter-bomber also crashed yesterday. The crews of both aircraft were rescued unharmed.

Military officials declined to confirm news reports that the Apache was shot down during the battle at the camp.

Earlier this week, about 4,000 US troops launched a sweep through towns of the so-called “Sunni triangle” north and west of Baghdad and marked at its top by Tikrit, Saddam’s hometown.

The crackdown aimed to root out militants who have recently stepped up ambushes and sniper attacks targeting coalition forces in the triangle.

Coalition forces did not give a total of Iraqi casualties in the operation, but said about 400 Iraqis have been arrested and many were being interrogated.

No Americans have been killed but four US soldiers suffered gunshot wounds yesterday.

“It is one of the largest operations since the war,” US Central Command spokesman Lt Ryan Fitzgerald said of the sweep – dubbed Operation Peninsula Strike.

Lt Gen David McKiernan, the US ground forces commander in Iraq, said the search for insurgents was based on intelligence tips.

He acknowledged that “Iraq will be a combat zone for some time.”

* US military officials also said two Iraqi prisoners were shot trying to escape from a camp yesterday. One of the men later died of his wounds and the other was recaptured. The US is holding more than 2,000 Iraqis, including more than half the 55 Iraqi most-wanted by Washington.