Agence France Presse reports an "eerie calm in Baghdad" and a "triumphant statement from al-Qaeda:
"We call on all mujahideen... to support the young Islamic state in Iraq. Weakness has gripped the infidel nations. The first signs of victory can be seen on the horizon," the group said in an Internet statement.The message, which could not be independently authenticated, was issued in the name of the self-proclaimed Islamic Emirate of Iraq, which was declared on October 15 by a Qaeda-led coalition of Sunni insurgent groups.
It coincided with fierce fighting between Al-Qaeda and US forces in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi, in the heartland of the Sunni rebellion, where at least five American sailors and marines were killed on Wednesday.
Last month's declaration of the emirate was marked by a brief show of force by insurgents, who were filmed by televisions crews driving cars full of armed militants through central Ramadi bearing Al-Qaeda banners.
The US-led coalition has denied losing control of the situation, but on Thursday military spokesman General William Caldwell said the marines based in Ramadi were engaged in a tough operation to "take back" the city.
"They're continuing to have progress. They, in coordination with Iraqi security forces, are on a daily conflict with the insurgent elements out there, but they are in fact moving forward," he told reporters Thursday.
"They're doing it very aggressively out there... And it's an aggressive offensive approach to taking back the city of Ramadi, to return it back to Iraqi security force control," he said.
Our will declare victory as soon as we withdraw our forces from Iraq.
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