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Iraqi Officials: Fallujah Mission 'Accomplished'
U.S. troops have "occupied" the entire city of Fallujah, leading Iraqi officials to declare on Saturday the mission "accomplished." There were no more major concentrations of insurgents still fighting, U.S. military officials said. Artillery and airstrikes also ended at nightfall. U.S. military officials said Saturday that American troops had now "occupied" the entire city of Fallujah and there were no more major concentrations of insurgents still fighting. Artillery and airstrikes also ended after nightfall. Iraqi officials acknowledged that the two most wanted figures in the city — Jordanian terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Sheik Abdullah al-Janabi — had escaped the fighting. At least 30 of Zarqawi's lieutenants had been killed, officials told FOX News. But after nearly a week of intense urban combat, U.S. officers said resistance had not been entirely subdued and that it still could take several days of fighting to clear the final pockets. At least 1,200 insurgents have been killed since the battle for Fallujah began four days ago, U.S. military officials estimated.Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-11-13 |
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