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US bombs suspected hideouts

US warplanes unleashed one of the most intense airstrikes of the Iraq War, dropping 18,145kg of explosives in a thunderous 10-minute onslaught on suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq safe havens in Sunni farmlands south of Baghdad.

The mighty barrage on Thursday -- recalling the Pentagon's "shock and awe" raids during the 2003 invasion -- appeared to mark a significant escalation in a countrywide offensive launched this week to try to cripple remaining insurgent strongholds.

But it also fits into the endgame strategy of last year's US troop buildup, which seeks to regain control of Baghdad and surrounding areas as a buffer zone for the capital. US commanders are now attempting to subdue the last insurgent footholds around Baghdad before the Pentagon faces a possible reduction in troop strength.

Some of the additional 30,000 troops have been pulled out and the remainder are expected to depart by June, military officials have said. With insurgents still holding pockets south of the capital and in districts to the north and far north -- including the key northern city of Mosul -- the military apparently wants to take the remaining four months or so to use the expanded military muscle against al-Qaeda.

After Thursday's airstrikes, US and Iraqi soldiers advanced through smoldering citrus groves into areas that were considered important al-Qaeda enclaves around Arab Jabour, southeast of Baghdad. An Iraqi officer said the soldiers discovered two houses used to torture kidnap victims and arrested at least 12 suspected insurgents.

Little initial resistance was reported. At least nine US soldiers have been killed since the offensive began on Tuesday -- the deadliest days for US forces since last fall.

In the farming village of Zambaraniyah, on the outskirts of Arab Jabour about 14.5km southeast of the capital, scenes of neglect and devastation were testimony to years of fighting between militants and US and Iraqi troops.

Most of the land is torched or left fallow along small roads that were once laced with booby traps and bombs.

Major Alayne Conway, a spokeswoman for troops in central Iraq, said the amount of ordnance dropped in 10 minutes almost exceeded what had been used in the region in any month since June.

Conway said the air attack "was one of the largest airstrikes since the onset of the war" in March 2003.

A military statement said two B-1 bombers and four F-16 fighters hit 40 targets in Arab Jabour in 10 strikes. Al-Qaeda fighters are believed to control the area, a Sunni district lined with citrus groves.

"Thirty-eight bombs were dropped within the first 10 minutes, with a total tonnage of 40,000 pounds [18,145kg]," it said.

The Iraqi army officer, whose unit is in the Arab Jabour area, said the airstrikes began at 8am and set several groves ablaze and destroyed two houses used by gunmen. He said soldiers confiscated documents and weapons including AK-47s. The army officer spoke on condition of anonymity.

Moahmoud Chiad, who lives on the edge of Arab Jabour, said he was surprised to see many US-Iraqi checkpoints with Iraqi security forces. Iraqis used loudspeakers to order residents to stay home.

"After this, we saw US helicopters hovering over the area while the sounds of jet fighters were also heard," he said. "Minutes later, there were the sounds of big explosions. We saw fire and smoke coming out from some groves. Then, the gunfire crackled in the groves, but it ended by noon."
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