By Xinhua
Baghdad : U.S. and Iraqi forces backed by aircraft killed 33 insurgents during an operation aimed at reopening a water canal seized by gunmen in the volatile Diyala province, the U.S. military said on Tuesday.
Hundreds of U.S. and Iraqi soldiers were involved in Monday’s predawn operation, dubbed “Operation Church,” into the village of Gobia in a bid to restore essential services to the town of Khalis, the military said in a statement.
“The objective of the mission was to open the spillway, whichregulates water flow to the town of Khalis, restoring theessential service of water,” the statement said.
The operation resulted in the killing of 33 insurgents, including 20 killed during U.S. air strikes, the statement said, adding that the troops have successfully reopened the spillway and confiscated three caches of weapons and explosives.
Diyala province, which stretches from Baghdad to the Iranian border to the east, has long been the hotbed of insurgency and sectarian violence since the U.S.-led invasion broke out in 2003.