Iraq launches biggest offensive against al Qaeda

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that two Iraqi army divisions Nos. 1 and 7 Sunday launched a two-prong attack on Al Qaeda strongholds in the Western Iraqi province of Anbar. The battles are fierce. Iraqi forces are fighting with US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks and Russian Mi-35 assault helicopters for their biggest campaign since the US-led invasion of 2003. They are using a plan of action designed by Iran and Syria. If it is successful, it will take much of the pressure Al Qaeda is keeping up on Bashar Assad’s forces in Syria.