About 300 Iraqis were detained overnight in the largest joint US-Iraqi offensive against suspected insurgents in Abu Ghraib area near Baghdad, the US military said on Monday.

"This is the largest combined operation with Iraqi security forces to date," said a US military spokesman.

It targeted militants suspected of launching attacks on the US- run detention facility in Abu Ghraib area, some 20 km west of Baghdad, and the main road leading to Baghdad international airport, he said.

The new offensive dubbed "Operation Squeeze Play" involved seven Iraqi battalions backed by US forces, he added.

"The Iraqi Security Forces have the lead in this operation while we perform shaping and supporting roles," the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua