BAGHDAD, July 17, SPA -- U.S. Marines have launched a new offensive to establish a presence in towns along the Euphrates River long used as insurgent sanctuaries, the U.S. command said Tuesday. Regimental Combat Team 2 began Operation Mawtini last Sunday to «neutralize any future attempts by anti-Iraqiforces to re-establish a presence in key urban areas alongthe Euphrates River valley,» the Associated Press quoted a U.S. statement as saying. The operation includes more than 9,000 U.S. and Iraqitroops and aims to establish control in remote areas ofwestern Anbar province, the U.S. said. «We anticipate that the terrorists will attempt tostep-up their attacks in the urban areas to regain powerand influence over the population» said Col. Stacy Clardy,the Marine regimental commander. «We're hunting them down to make sure that doesn't happen.»--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/468155