U.S. and Iraqi forces sealed off roads to an area south of Baghdad on Wednesday and resistance fighters bombed two bridges in a bid to hinder troop movement.
On Tuesday, Iraq's Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said the attacks against "insurgents" would intensify.
More than 3,000 U.S. and Iraqi forces on Tuesday launched a major operation to retake control of of Babil province.
The Marines and Iraqis moved across the Euphrates River, rounded up 160 suspects, seized a suspected training camp and took control of a major bridge, the U.S. command said, according to The AP.
On Wednesday, U.S. soldiers and Iraqi National Guardsmen were sealing off the roads leading to Qasir town in the Youssifiyah area, preventing anybody from going in or out.
Residents said two explosions one a car bomb another a roadside bomb hit two bridges in the area Wednesday.
In Fallujah, U.S.-led forces unleashed another strike early Wednesday.
In Basra, a roadside bomb went off as a British patrol was crossing a bridge, killing one Iraqi and injuring 10 others, police said Wednesday. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
