The U.S. is claiming success in a massive air-strike campaign south of Baghdad. More than 40,000 pounds of bombs were dropped on the Arab Jabour district in one of the most intense air attacks since the U.S. invasion. Defense Secretary Robert Gates vowed to continue the bombing.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates: “So this job is not finished. There is more to do. But I think there is the sense that this is an important offensive. Because we are on the offensive again in areas where we have not been active for some time, it’s not a surprise that we will see some higher casualties until that area is cleared.”

The Pentagon says no civilians were killed, but the claim hasn’t been independently verified.