Iraqi Resistance Gains Momentum

“Iraqis should stay away from occupation soldiers, tanks and armored vehicles, to allow our fighting cells to carry out their martyr operations without leaving civilian casualties,” read the resistance, vowing to keep its operations up and running.

“We will not feel guilty if any of those accompanying – or collaborating with – the Americans were killed,” it added.

U.S. Central Command said that it launched on Sunday a fresh mission, Operation Desert Scorpion "designed to identify and defeat selected Baath party loyalists, terrorist organizations and criminal elements".

It followed last week’s operation, codenamed Peninsula Strike, in which U.S. troops raided suspected militia hideouts in the river plains around northern Iraqi city of Balad, leaving more than 100 people dead and scores detained.

The U.S. forces accused those loyalists of launching hostile attacks and ambushes that left some 40 of their soldiers dead since May 1 – the same day U.S. President George W. Bush declared an end to the invasion of Iraq that opened its salvoes on May 20.