BAGHDAD, Nov. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraqi soldiers and US marines began a new offensive against insurgents northwest of Baghdad Wednesday, the US military in a statement said.

   Approximately 500 Iraqi Army soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division and 1,500 Marines and Sailors from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit along with 500 Soldiers from 2nd Battalion-114th Field Artillery Regiment waged "Iron Hammer" offensive on the Hai al-Becker region in east of Hit, some 150 km northwest of Baghdad, the statement said.

   The operation is to clear the region of "al-Qaida and Iraq-led terrorists," along with the area on the eastern side of the Euphrates River, which is not typically patrolled by Iraqi and US forces, it said.

   "It is believed to be a stopping point for terrorists as they transit the 'rat lines' down the Euphrates River from Syria into the interior of Iraq," it said.

   In July, Iraqi and US forces established long-term security presence in Hit during an offensive.

   The new offensive is part of a series of "disruption operations" by US marines and Iraqi army in the volatile Anbar province. Enditem