Iraqi, U.S. Forces Overrun Terror Base

I may not be too confident about the body count, as reports have ranged from “dozens” all the way up to 85 dead scumbags, but I am certain which side has momentum in Iraq after government forces crush a terrorist base.

After a two-hour firefight, Iraqi forces and U.S. helicopters captured an insurgent base north of Baghdad, killing 85 rebels, U.S. and Iraqi military officials said Wednesday.

“A previous safe haven for planning attacks has been removed,” a U.S. military official said of Tuesday’s battle.

Although the Iraqi military said it killed 85 insurgents during the firefight, the U.S. military said the number of rebel dead was “undetermined.”

[…]

After entering the camp, Iraqi commandos found non-Iraqi passports, training publications, propaganda documents, weapons and ammunition, the U.S. military said.

The U.S. military said the camp is at a remote location about 60 miles northwest of Baghdad, near Lake Tharthar, along the border of Salaheddin and Anbar provinces. But the Iraqi Interior Ministry said the camp was in Samarra, which is east of the lake.

[…]

The U.S. role in the battle was primarily to provide helicopter support, the U.S. military official said. The battle “is another indication of [the insurgents’] diminished capabilities,” the official said.

“This in an indication that they have been forced from major population centers and forced to operate in more remote areas,” he said.

Dr. Rusty Shackleford over at the Jawa Report has a rather colorful post about the engagement.

It turns out that there were 85 pieces of terrorist shit that were splattered by our Iraqi allies today, not 80. Hey, five more dead mujahidin going to meet their 75 white grapes is a good numerical adjustment in my book.

Dr. Rusty’s post also includes a nice round-up of others writing on the matter.

Add to the story this Associated Press summary of the recent success against the Saddamist and radical Islamist terrorists.

Battles that have killed large numbers of Iraqi insurgents over the past few days:

SUNDAY: Dozens of insurgents ambush a U.S. convoy near the infamous “Triangle of Death” south of Baghdad, and 26 militants are killed in the resulting gunbattle. Eight others are taken into custody, including seven wounded. Seven soldiers are also injured.

MONDAY: Militants ambush a convoy of security officials in Mosul, sparking a gunbattle that left 17 dead and 14 injured, according to Iraqi police. No security forces were hurt.

TUESDAY: Iraqi forces, backed by U.S. troops, raid a suspected insurgent training camp near Lake Tharthar, leaving 85 people dead, according to Iraqi officials. At least seven Iraqi commandos were also killed.

You can double-check my math, but that looks like a three-day winning streak with a cumulative score of 128-7. And that, folks, is a sweet scoreboard.