Release A050618c

Marines begin Operation Dagger in Al Anbar

Multi-National Force-Iraq

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, RAMADI, Iraq – Marines, Sailors and Soldiers from Regimental Combat Team-8, 2nd Marine Division and Iraqi Security Force soldiers began conducting combat operations early this morning in the Southern Lake Thar-Thar region of Al Anbar.

Operation Dagger is focused on locating hidden weapons caches and denying terrorists sanctuary in the area that is a suspected logistical hub located 85 km northwest of Baghdad .

The area east of the Lake Thar-Thar region was recently searched for hidden weapons by Marines during Operation Pitchfork. During the 10-day operation Marines located over 50 hidden weapons caches and an underground bunker in the vicinity of a rock quarry.

On March 22, Soldiers from the 42nd Infantry Division and Iraqi Security Forces engaged and killed a large number of terrorists at a training camp they discovered in the area.

The approximate, 1,000 strong force assigned to Operation Dagger will search the area for signs of these camps and hidden weapons caches used by terrorists to launch attacks on Iraqi citizens, soldiers, police and Coalition forces.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-WEST PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT CEPAOWO@CEMNF-WIRAQ.USMC.MIL .