New Iraq mission for Black Watch

Black Watch forces advance to the river's eastern bank

Black Watch troops have begun a major operation in Iraq ahead of an expected raid on Falluja by US Marines.

They blocked off a key bridge on the eastern bank of the River Euphrates in the regiment's biggest mission since it was redeployed to central Iraq.

BBC correspondent Ben Brown, at the troops' base, Camp Dogwood, said the plan is to stop fighters and weapons being moved by Sunni insurgents.

The operation comes days after three soldiers from the regiment were killed.

Sgt Stuart Gray, 31, Pte Paul Lowe, 19 and Pte Scott McArdle, 22, all from Fife, died in a suicide bomb attack at a checkpoint near Falluja on Thursday

'Urgent request'

The operation has intensified speculation that American and Iraqi troops will launch an imminent raid on Falluja.

All roads in and out of the city, where 5,000 rebels are believed to be housed, have been shut off.

There have also been air and artillery strikes over the past two days.

Hundreds of Black Watch troops from all three fighting companies of the regiment's battle group were involved in Sunday's operation to block off the bridge.

They were lead into action by a lone soldier playing the bagpipes, a tradition dating back centuries.

Black Watch operations room

The troops, who had previously been based in Basra, in southern Iraq, were supported by 40 Warrior armoured personnel carriers and a detachment of Royal Marines.

It has been reported that American Marine forces had made an "urgent request" for the British soldiers to take part in the operation.

Along with British soldiers, they will form a tight cordon around Falluja to black off supply routes.

Falluja raid

The 1st Battalion of the Black Watch formed a large part of the 850-strong deployment nine days ago.

They were requested by America to replace US Marines in Camp Dogwood, 20 miles (32km) from Baghdad.

The controversial move, has freed-up the Marines for the raid on Falluja.

Emails reportedly sent by Black Watch's commanding officer, Lt Col James Cowan, expressed concern at the redeployment.

In one he said he expected "every lunatic terrorist from miles around to descend on us like bees to honey".

He also said: "I hope the government knows what it has got itself into.

"I'm not sure they fully appreciate the risks."

The number of UK military personnel killed in Iraq stands at 73, with 31 of those as a result of enemy attacks.