The U.S. military announced Friday it had completed a major sweep in western Iraq aimed at suppressing al-Qaeda elements before next week's vote on Iraq's constitution.
The US military said 50 "insurgents" were killed in the six-day offensive, launched Oct. 1 in towns near the Syrian border. The military added it would wrap up the operations in time for Sunnis in the region to vote in the Oct. 15 referendum. The border raid dubbed Operation Iron Fist ended late Thursday, but a post of US forces will remain in the town of Sadah, eight miles from Syria.
The military also said two U.S. Army soldiers died of wounds sustained Friday.
In other incidents, gunmen killed Haj Abdul Bajid Ahmed Al-Jibori, a member of the local district council, in a drive-by shooting southwest of the northern city of Kirkuk, police Brig. Sarhad Qader said.
West of Baghdad, a drive-by shooting killed police Capt. Haqi Ismael, who worked with the Ministry of Interior, said police Capt. Talib Thamir.
Early Saturday, an audiotape attributed to al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed that Islam permits the killing of “infidel” civilians. “In Islam, making the difference is not based on civilians and military, but on the basis of Muslims and infidels,” said the voice on the tape, broadcast on the Internet.
“The Muslim’s blood cannot be spilled whatever his work or place, while spilling the blood of the infidel, whatever his work or place, is authorized if he is not trustworthy,” said the tape.
