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Reports from the Iraqi city of Fallujah say U.S. led forces have now fought their way through at least half the city, seizing more territory and locating some of the hideouts used by terrorists to capture and kill foreign hostages.
On the third day of the ground assault, the American general leading marines told reporters an unspecified number of enemy have been killed or captured while continuing to characterize coalition and Iraqi casualties as light.
The top American and Iraqi generals in Fallujah say their forces have struck with precision against terrorist targets and continue to say they are pleased with how the operation is going.
But what is unclear is how many of the terrorists are being captured, killed or have escaped. Lieutenant General John Sattler, commander of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, part of the force that is leading the assault on Fallujah, [said]: "We are comfortable that they are not able to communicate to work out any coordination. They are now in small pockets, blind, moving throughout the city and we will continue tohuntthemdownand destroy them."
On Tuesday, the American general in charge of overall coalition operations in Iraq said top insurgent and terrorist leaders, including Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had probably already escaped Fallujah, prior to the start of the operation.
But addressing reporters alongside his Iraqi counterpart from their base just outside the city, General Sattler says those who have been apprehended are providing useful information. "We have captured some and they are working with us," he added. "I do not want to give the numbers because that information is very important to both of us for future operations." He suggests the operation is likely to continue for some time, pointing out Iraqi forces continue to go building by building, seizing weapons and capturing or killing insurgents who may still be there.
One key development, Iraqi forces say they have discovered specific homes in the Fallujah area used by terrorists to detain and often kill foreign hostages, along with some of the black clothing and video messages that have been used to broadcast their demands.
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