Military to open combat hospital in Anbar

Ar Ramadi is the capital of Anbar province. 4,000 of the new 'surge' forces are intended for Anbar.

The U.S. military will open the first newly built combat hospital in Anbar province next week, providing what officials call an upgrade to previous facilities in the region.

The 399th Combat Support Hospital, at Asad, will serve as the primary medical facility for the Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Army troops in the region, along with Iraqi army and police units in Anbar province.

"The primary benefit of having this hospital in the al-Anbar province is that it will reduce the amount of time before Marines, Coalition and Iraqi Armed Forces receive level III (Surgical and Stabilization) medical care in the region," officials said.

More than 40 percent of American casualties in Iraq are suffered in Anbar province.

Read the rest at Stars and Stripes

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