More than 1,000 US marines and Iraqi forces launched Tuesday morning a new major offensive to eradicate insurgents and foreign fighters in western Iraq, the US military said.

"Operation Sword began early this morning to root out terrorists and foreign fighters living along the Euphrates River between the cities of Haditha and Hit," the US military said in a statement.

The Operation Sword, Saif in Arabic, is the fourth major offensive launched by the US and Iraqi forces in the western Anbar province during the past two months in an attempt to curb violent activities.

The area, some 200 km west of Baghdad, has been a bastion of insurgency against the US and the Iraqi governmental forces.

Source: Xinhua