Hiet, Iraq, June 28, SPA -- More than 1,000 U.S. troops and Iraqiforces launched Operation Sword on Tuesday in a bid tocrush insurgents and foreign fighters in western Iraq,making it the third major offensive in the area in recentweeks. The new campaign is focusing on communities living alongthe Euphrates River between the towns of Hit and Haditha inthe volatile Anbar province, said Marine Capt. JeffreyPool, a spokesman. The U.S. troops include Marines, soldiers and sailors fromRegimental Combat Team 2, comprised of the 2nd MarineRegiment and 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd MarineDivision, Pool was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. The region, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) northwest ofBaghdad, is a hotbed of insurgent activity. Operation Sword, or Saif in Arabic, comes on the heels oftwo other offensives _ dubbed Operations Spear and Dagger.--SPA1456 Local Time 1156 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/273165