Al-Qaeda to launch 'offensive' in Iraq to counter US operation on Syrian border

"DUBAI (AFX) - Al-Qaeda's Iraq operation, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said it was launching an offensive in the west of Iraq in response to a major US and Iraqi military operation on the Syrian border.

'Your brothers in the military branch of Al-Qaeda in the Land of Two Rivers are launching today 'The Conquest of Vengeance' on behalf of the Sunni community in Al-Qaim,' the group said in an online statement which could not be independently verified.

It stressed the group's 'right to defend the (Islamic) nation and avenge the honour and blood' of Iraqis.

The offensive came 'after the crusaders and the apostate government have not ceased their operations', referring to a warning it issued yesterday for US and Iraqi forces to halt their sweep against insurgents within 24 hours.

'After that they will only see from us the worst and something that's going to make the earth tremble under their feet,' the earlier statement said."
Forbes

The battle is joined. Looks like we must have hit a nerve with this last operation. Be ready everywhere in Iraq, these people are mot going to come out in an up front fight. They are going to try and hit us from behind and rum. So keep your eye open and don't let your guard down no matter how quiet your part of Iraq is. The more quiet it is the more likely that is where they will hit.