European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 23, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                June 2007 stars and stripes Page 7 Ai Aida flees bad Cuba assault helps kill 17 militants most of leadership left City before fighting by Lauren Frayer the associated press Iraq american attack helicopters fired on Al Aida militants trying to slip past an iraqi checkpoint on Fri killing 17 of them in the fourth Day of an offensive to oust the fighters entrenched in this City an hours drive North of Bagh More than three quarters of the cites Al Aida leadership fled before the americans in to bad Cuba this officials said but not before drone planes spotted fighters planting dozens of Roadside bombs on the main Highway into the Capi Tal of volatile and extremely dangerous Dyala Mick assistant commander for operations with the 25th infantry estimated that several Hundred Low level Al Aida fighters re there clearly in no question about but there a Hartline group of fighters who have no intention of and they want to kill As Many coalition and iraqi Security forces As they possibly Bednarek told the associated press and another news Agency on soldiers spread maps across rubble and pulled up charred con Crete blocks As stools inside the crumbling controlled explosions of Roadside bombs boomed in the soldiers Laden Down by body Armor mopped sweat from their its 247 for us and its probably the same for our Adver sary As Bednarek its Block to Street to sewer to sewer Talal and iraqi forces Check a map in 35 Miles Northeast of on the military began a major Campaign against sunni insurgents monday in the area surrounding the capital of Dyala and its also vans were searching every one of the Al Aida leaders abandoned a Field Complete with oxygen heart defibrillators and other sophisticated medical said Steve commander of the 3rd 2nd infantry i they also left behind at least seven Homes Boob trapped with trip said from attack helicopters firing missiles killed the 17 Al Aida fighters Friday As the militants tried to bypass iraqi police and in filtrate a shiite enclave Northwest of the military said in a More than three quarters of the senior Al Aida leaders holed up escaped As the offensive began Raymond odier the top Day today commander of forces in said thursday during a on Day trip to the we believe 80 percent of the upper level Al Aida leaders but Well find odier no said after meeting with Battal Ion commanders in the bombed out eighty per cent of the lower level leaders Are still who was in charge of bad Cuba As head of the 4th infantry division in 2003 and said he was shocked at How entrenched Al Aida had Resolution would end weapons search United nations a pro posed Resolution would immediately end the work of inspection bodies under sad dam Hussein played a Pivotal role in monitoring Iraq biological and chemical weapons Iraq new leaders have also been lobbying for the Council to Stop using the country Oil reve nue to pay the salaries of the inspectors and to have All Money remaining in the Oil Forwood account transferred to the from the associated press Odierno commander sees possible 08 draw Down the associated press Washington the May be Able to reduce combat forces in Iraq Early next year if Iraq own Security forces continue to grow and a senior american commander said Raymond the top Day today commander of forces in did not pre dict any reductions but said it May be feasible by there Are troops in speaking to reporters at the de sense department from his head quarters outside odier no gave an update on the series of offensives that Are under Way in Dyala province Northeast of Baghdad and in areas South and West of the he said and iraqi troops have made important i think if everything goes the Way its going theres a potential that by the Spring we will be Able to reduce and Iraq Security forces could take he it could happen sooner than i dont he also cautioned because the insurgents in Iraq have proven so resilient and Mak ing any prediction is theres so Many things that could happen Between now and he referring to Early he also said its too Early to say How Long the recent addition of Al most troops should be my my a personal secure website for military families dont let life pass you by while you Are serving capture it live it when you have time build a living diary with your family friends have your own secure space easy to use for All Ages grandparents to grandchildren messages at your convenience dream makers a firs time Home buyers for those in the service of our country National Security v qualify for up to in Grants for the Purchase of your first Home the Pentagon Federal credit Union foundation wants to help make your dream of Home ownership come Well match your mortgage nest egg three to up to you can Start with As Little a of your own Grants available up to for closing costs and Dowl youve earned your Sofij you deserve to own a the Pentagon Federal credit Union foundation serving our 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