U.S. and Iraqi forces launched a major offensive in the western town of Haditha, a town on the Euphrates river that lies on the road to Syria:

Haditha, a town of about 100,000 people 200km northwest of Baghdad in the Euphrates valley, sits on a major supply route between Syria and the rebel stronghold of Ramadi and has long been suspected of being a militant haven.

Here’s an exchange you won’t read in the MSM:

The American troops killed at least 10 suspected militants in Haditha, a Euphrates River city of 90,000 people _ one of whom told the Marines that insurgents had recently killed her husband.

Speaking inside her home through a military interpreter, the woman moved her finger across her throat as she begged that her name not be used, indicating she could be killed for talking to U.S. forces. She later helped cook a breakfast of eggs and bread for the handful of Iraqi soldiers helping guard the street.

People have always been nice to us. But you can tell the (insurgents) have been doing some damage because people are real scared,” said Marine Capt. Christopher Toland, of Austin, Texas, a platoon commander in the 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment.