RAMADI, November 14, 2004 — As U.S. Marines and soldiers have blasted their way through Fallujah, another insurgent outpost has grown stronger 30 miles down the road in Ramadi.

Insurgent attacks on U.S. troops here have markedly intensified in the past two weeks, and enemy combatants are now conducting a more determined battle, commanders say.

"My personal take is that Ramadi is a less-publicized Fallujah, in the sense of the combat you face every time you go into town," said Capt. Ben Siebold, a company commander in an Army battalion. "In the time I've been here, the nature of the enemy has changed. He's more determined, more organized and a little bit better shot."

Some mosques have been turned into ammo dumps for insurgents who flee to them after taking shots at U.S. convoys with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars.

"Ramadi is really out of control, and they needed another infantry battalion in the city," said Lt. Col. Justin Gubler, commander of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry. Up to 150 foreign fighters are in the city, he said. "We've seen an increase in their proficiency and their will to fight."

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