'"More than 1,500 Iraqi and Coalition troops, over 200 tactical vehicles, and more than 50 aircraft participated in the operation," the US military said in a statement about the attack designed to "clear a suspected insurgent operating area northeast of Samarra," 95 km north of Baghdad.

The military said the operation was expected to continue over several days against insurgent targets in Salahuddin province, where Samarra is a key city.'

from

here.