International

Officials Note Progress in Anbar, but Death Toll Rises

By Jamie Tarabay, Melissa Block

Published September 7, 2007 at 1:00 PM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

In the run-up to the report by Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. military and political leaders repeatedly point to one relative bright spot: Anbar province.

In the past year, there have been reports of local tribal leaders coming onboard with the U.S. — splitting from and turning against al-Qaida in Iraq — and pacifying the formerly deadly city of Ramadi.

Yet the U.S. military regularly loses more troops in al Anbar than in any other province but Baghdad. Early Friday, four more U.S. Marines reportedly were killed in combat operations there.

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Jamie Tarabay

After reporting from Iraq for two years as NPR's Baghdad Bureau Chief, Jamie Tarabay is now embarking on a two year project reporting on America's Muslims. The coverage will take in the country's approx 6 million Muslims, of different ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, and the issues facing their daily lives as Americans.

Melissa Block

As special correspondent and guest host of NPR's news programs, Melissa Block brings her signature combination of warmth and incisive reporting. Her work over the decades has earned her journalism's highest honors, and has made her one of NPR's most familiar and beloved voices.

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