RAMADI, IRAQ (May 16, 2008) â?? A Marine from 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, digs for a possible weapons cache near the south side of Lake Tharthar, al Anbar Province May 13 in support of OPERATION SPRING BREAK. The purpose of the operation was to disrupt suspected insurgent movement. The south side of Lake Tharthar has seen a scarce amount of interaction with Coalition forces since 2004, while the north has been more heavily patrolled. â??No one has been on the south side of Lake Tharthar for almost two years and there was a possibility insurgents were using the area as a safe haven and transportation hub,â? said Maj. Jeff McCormack, the operations officer for 1st Bn., 9th Marines. â??The mission was to disrupt insurgent movement and also establish relationships with the local fisherman.â?(OFFICIAL U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY LANCE CPL. ADAM ROOT/RELEASED)