BEIJING, May 15 -- The U.S. military in Iraq has wrapped up a major offensive in a remote northern desert region near the Syrian border, killing at least 125 insurgents and injuring hundreds more.

    It was one of the largest American campaigns since militants were driven from Fallujah six months ago.

    In a statement issued Saturday, the US military said more than 1,000 marines, soldiers and sailors participated in Operation Matador launched last Saturday and numerous weapons caches containing machine guns, mortar rounds and rockets were discovered.

    Nine U.S. marines were killed and 40 injured during the operation.

    The weeklong campaign mainly targeted followers of Iraq's most wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

    Militant attacks surged in Iraq over the past two weeks since Ibrahim al-Jaafari's government was announced, with more than 450 people killed so far.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)