The US military has said its major offensive along the Syrian border in western Iraq has met with some resistance. Dubbed Operation Steel Curtain, the offensive comprises about 3500 troops and includes for the first time units of Iraq's military, numbering about 1000, in what the US insists are joint operations in the al-Anbar province. US and Iraqi forces say they "have encountered sporadic resistance - mostly small arms fire and improvised explosive devices". The US military also said only specific targets were selected and there were no reports of military or civilian casualties. There were fatalities among fighters, the US military added.At least nine air strikes were called on positions described as "enemy strong points", and a separate strike was carried out against a suspected car bomb, a US military statement said. Iraqi scouts, described as "specially recruited soldiers from the al-Qaim region," are embedded with the frontline units "and are helping to identify fighter strong points and areas known to contain these homemade bombs". The operation involves 1000 Iraqi army soldiers as well as 2500 marines, sailors and soldiers in what the US military called "the largest concentration of Iraqi army forces to take part in an operation in al-Anbar this year".
Steel Curtain follows two earlier operations, Iron Fist and River Gate, also along the Euphrates valley in al-Anbar province. The US command said there were no reports of casualties among American or Iraqi government forces. Residents and local leaders say US bombardment in the Husaiba area were endangering civilians and could lead to greater instability throughout the country.