U.S. Baffled by Spreading Guerrilla Warfare in Iraq

Right after the deadline for returning unauthorized weapons possessed by Iraqis (June 14), U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq commenced a massive mopping up operation against remnant insurgents of Saddam Hussein on May 15 dawn (local time), the AP reported yesterday. It is the largest operation since the end of the Iraq war, however, some U.S. military facilities in some areas have been attacked.

The operation, called “Spartan Scorpion,” was part of a nationwide effort expected over the next few days to seize unauthorized weapons and militants following the end of an amnesty for anyone turning in illegal arms.

The U.S. 3rd Infantry Division`s 2nd Brigade began the operation, called “Spartan Scorpion,” to block Fallujah, west of Baghdad, in order to arrest remaining leaderships of the Hussein regime and seize illegal weapons. The operation was commenced only three hours after the dead line for the returning weapons and 1,300 soldiers were put into the operation.

As the remaining insurgents continued surprise attacks, U.S. troops carried out a mopping up operation last week at the Sunni triangle area, north and west of Baghdad under the dubbed Operation Peninsula Strike. During the operation, U.S. forces killed around 100 combatants, 27 combatants at a desert training camp at Sahl, near the border with Syria, and 27 combatants at Balad northeast of Baghdad.

Meanwhile, armed assailants launched a mortar attack on a U.S. military headquarters in Ramadi, west of the capital Baghdad setting the building on fire, al-Jazeera television was quoted saying in an Arab television station Sunday. The Qatar-based al-Jazeera television quoted one of its correspondents in Baghdad as saying, “The assailants are not yet identified, however, ambulances are heading toward the compound.”

Despite President George W. Bush’s declaration of the end of war, U.S. media started to criticize the Iraq war as the “war yet finished” as the U.S. forces are continually attacked in Iraq while weapons of mass destruction, which were excuses of the war, have not been found

139 soldiers were killed during the war, however further 44 soldiers were killed after the declaration of the end of the war, the U.S.A. Today reported. The paper also reported complaints and criticism of U.S. soldiers and families who are raising the question saying, “When the war will ever end?”

The battle between U.S. soldiers in Iraq and remnant insurgents who are still royal the Saddam Hussein is becoming more of guerrilla warfare, the Washington Post reported.

In the meantime, a letter from Saddam Hussein was found. It was written on June 12 and it warns foreign residents in Iraq to leave the country. The letter was reported on an Arab language newspaper published in London, the DPA news agency reported on May 14.

Hye-Yoon Park parkhyey@donga.com