Iraqi military officials say tanks and troops have arrived in the northern city Mosul for a new offensive against al Qaida in Iraq fighters.
Officials will not say how many troops have arrived in the Sunni Arab and Kurdish city, where bombings last week killed at least 34 people and wounded more than 200. U.S. commanders have not explained how American forces will participate in the offensive.
Officials say al Qaida in Iraq fighters have fled successful campaigns against them in Anbar province and Baghdad to other northern provinces. Mosul is the largest city north of Baghdad and has long been a stronghold of Sunni militant fighters.
In other violence, U.S. officials said one American soldier was killed while on patrol in Baghdad Sunday.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
