Iraqi forces launch attack on Tal Afar

[News Manager]

TAL AFAR, Iraq (Reuters) - Thousands of Iraqi and U.S.
troops launched an assault on the northern city of Tal Afar on
Saturday to rid it of insurgents and Iraq's government said it
planned attacks on rebels in four other towns.

Read more...

 

[Marinerhodes]

At 2 a.m. today (2200 GMT), acting on my orders, Iraqi forces commenced an operation to remove all remaining terrorist elements from the city of Tal Afar," Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari said in a statement, adding that U.S. forces, which bombed the town from the air overnight, were acting in support.

Beyond any military value, the political importance of an operation in which Iraqi forces are shown on television taking the lead role is considerable; in power for five months and facing an election in December, Jaafari's much-criticized government is keen to show it is capable of restoring security.

I am glad to hear that. This is what the Iraqi people need. To show them that they will be able to handle themselves and take care of themselves after the US moves out. That their country will not fall into total anarchy or civil war.