NAQUIB, Iraq—Flying several hundred feet over the Diyala River basin in eastern Iraq, it’s not difficult to see why one government leader here calls it a disaster area. Shattered remains of houses dot the landscape, both over the brown and dusty desert areas and the lush, green river basins that have earned this area the title “breadbasket of Iraq.” Read the rest of this entry »

RAMADI, IRAQ-Col. Ahmed Hamid Sharqi was many things-businessman, smuggler, policeman for Saddam Hussein. Now, the U.S. marines stationed here consider him one of their greatest assets in keeping the streets of the capital of Anbar province-only recently some of the most dangerous in the world-safe. Read the rest of this entry »

Pfc. Track Palin has been promoted from driver to an “air guard” position in one of the rear hatches of the Stryker vehicle. He stands in the hatch with a rifle and watches out for danger to the vehicle, be it airborne or on the ground. His unit also provides security for the brigade’s commander and deputy commander. From there, the next promotion is to be a dismounted soldier, one that leaves the 20-ton, eight-wheeled armored combat vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »

RAMADI, IRAQ-Many of the U.S. marines in the 2/9 Weapons Company out here in Iraq’s Sunni heartland didn’t sign up for this fight. Most of them, including many who aren’t old enough to buy beer back at their home base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., enlisted when the war here was a shooting war. Read the rest of this entry »

The U.S. military launched its first known raid into Syria on Sunday after several years of frustration over Damascus’s unwillingness-or inability-to shut down a regular flow of militants into Iraqi territory.

At least seven people were killed when U.S. helicopters struck a construction site near the town of Abu Kamal on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq. Read the rest of this entry »