The statement said the forces were acting "in response to repeated and unprovoked attacks by anti-Iraqi forces."

AIF is a military abbreviation for anti-Iraqi forces.

"It was originally believed that anti-Iraqi forces or other entities committed the offense," the document says, using the military's term for insurgents.

In the city they would receive help from other anti-Iraqi forces.

The operation was designed to root out anti-Iraqi and anti-coalition forces and destroying some of their support system.

The helicopters "fired upon the anti-Iraqi forces and the Bradley, preventing the loss of sensitive equipment and weapons."

"It's no surprise that anti-Iraqi forces or terrorists or whoever is doing this are trying to replicate this kind of attack," he said.

"But we don't want to create more sympathizers for the anti-Iraqi forces."

"This operation puts the anti-Iraqi forces in Falluja on notice."

"Samarra is a city where Iraqis are taking charge to throw out anti-Iraqi forces," he said in an e-mail message on Tuesday.