TIKRIT (Iraq), March 23: Ninety-five insurgents were killed in a 17-hour operation involving Iraqi and US forces launched against their training camp north of Baghdad, an Iraqi army commander said on Wednesday. Based on passports and documents seized, a number of foreigners were at the camp, located in a remote area near Lake Tharthar, according to US and Iraqi military officials.

“We have killed 80 fighters in a battle that lasted 17 hours. We lost 12 of our men including four officers,” said Col Mohammed Ibrahim with the Joint Coordination Centre, a rapid reaction unit that includes Iraqi and US forces.

A US military spokesman based in Tikrit confirmed the operation, which took place on Tuesday, but would not comment on the insurgent casualty toll given by the Iraqi side.

“There was a significant number of insurgent forces located at that site and since yesterday afternoon Iraqi and coalition forces have control of it,” Major Richard Goldenberg of the 42nd Infantry Division told AFP.

“There is an undetermined number of insurgent casualties. They have been denied a safe haven.”

Insurgents at the camp first opened fire at a force from the Iraqi interior ministry’s 1st Commando Battalion as it approached the site, killing a number of them and prompting US troops to intervene by air and ground.

An officer with the commandos, Lt-Col Sarmad Hussein, said the operation involved 240 of his men and that Algerians, Saudis and Syrians were among the fighters at the camp in the village of Ain al-Hilwa on the border between the restive and mostly Sunni Al-Anbar and Salaheddin provinces.

Leaflets posted on buildings in Tikrit and nearby Ad-Dawr and signed by the so-called Secret Islamic Army, one of the main militant groups believed to be active in the area, said only 11 rebels were killed in the raid.

“Iraqi media, even more than western outlets, are trying to rile up public opinion against us and to offend Islam. This battle has restored our honour,” said the leaflets.—AFP