The United States has begun a new offensive against Iraqi guerrillas as a tape purportedly made by Saddam Hussein urged the rebels to redouble their efforts
The move also comes as the US military tries to determine why two of its Black Hawk helicopters crashed in the northern city of Mosul on Saturday, killing 17.
Last night the military fired a satellite-guided missile with a 500-pound warhead from Taji, north of Baghdad, and hit a suspected training base west of Kirkuk, about 130 miles away, said a spokesman of the 4th Infantry Division. He said it was the first time such missiles have been used since the end of major combat on May 1st .
In Baghdad, US troops backed by armored vehicles and helicopters moved into the Sunni Muslim neighborhood of Azamiyah, sealing off a 20-block area and searching 450 houses over seven hours. They netted 30 Kalashnikovs, about a dozen shotguns and 10 pistols, according to US officers.
Soldiers detained 21 people for illegal weapons possession, although all were expected to be released today.
The alleged Saddam tape urged Iraqis to escalate attacks against the occupation and "agents brought by foreign armies" an apparent reference to Iraqis supporting the coalition. The speaker on the tape, aired on Al-Arabiya television, said the only way to end the chaos in Iraq was for Saddam and his now-outlawed Baath Party to return to power.
The last purported tape from Saddam was aired on Arab television September 17th. The CIA has been unable to authenticate that recording, saying the audio quality is too poor.
US Defence Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday that the Bush administration plans to establish a provisional Iraqi government by June, ending the US occupation - although this does not mean not mean US troops will withdraw soon. The issue of troops is "on a separate track" from the political timetable, he said.