About 150 rebels killed, 407 arrested in Iraq’s Tal Afar

TAL AFAR – Around 150 rebels were killed and over 400 others arrested since US and Iraqi troops intensified their operations late last week against insurgents in the restive town of Tal Afar, US military said.

“Some 150 rebels were killed,” commander Major James Gallivan, operations officer in the US Army 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment, which is leading the attack on the northern rebels’ stronghold, said late on Monday. “A total of 407 bad guys (rebels) are now held in custody…These are the ones kept for further screening,” he added, pointing out that many other men were released after being temporarily detained, after finding no evidence of their involvement in the insurgency.Iraqi and US troops had tightened their grip on the rebel stronghold of Tal Afar as insurgents wilted in the face of overwhelming firepower deployed by the 10 000-strong assault force.The 6 000 Iraqi and 4 000 US troops had intensified their offensive late last week after days of deadly clashes failed to dislodge rebels from Sunni Arab neighbourhoods of the ethnically divided town.Estimates vary for the number of rebels who had virtually controlled the town for the past months.A US general suggested they numbered between 350 and 500.An Iraqi army lieutenant colonel suggested that up to half the rebels might have managed to flee to neighbouring villages.Among those arrested were some 30 foreign fighters, including around 20 Syrians, as well as four Afghanis and two Saudis, he told AFP requesting anonymity.McMaster said rebels who slipped through the net would be hunted down.Iraqi forces, including Shi’ite-dominated police commandos who were brought from Baghdad, Tuesday continued to arrest suspects, handing them over to US troops.- Nampa-AFP”A total of 407 bad guys (rebels) are now held in custody…These are the ones kept for further screening,” he added, pointing out that many other men were released after being temporarily detained, after finding no evidence of their involvement in the insurgency.Iraqi and US troops had tightened their grip on the rebel stronghold of Tal Afar as insurgents wilted in the face of overwhelming firepower deployed by the 10 000-strong assault force.The 6 000 Iraqi and 4 000 US troops had intensified their offensive late last week after days of deadly clashes failed to dislodge rebels from Sunni Arab neighbourhoods of the ethnically divided town.Estimates vary for the number of rebels who had virtually controlled the town for the past months.A US general suggested they numbered between 350 and 500.An Iraqi army lieutenant colonel suggested that up to half the rebels might have managed to flee to neighbouring villages.Among those arrested were some 30 foreign fighters, including around 20 Syrians, as well as four Afghanis and two Saudis, he told AFP requesting anonymity.McMaster said rebels who slipped through the net would be hunted down.Iraqi forces, including Shi’ite-dominated police commandos who were brought from Baghdad, Tuesday continued to arrest suspects, handing them over to US troops.- Nampa-AFP