The operation that ended late on Saturday was launched after a group of unidentified assailants carried out two attacks on federal troops and police at about noon on July 5 in the Malgobek district in northwest Ingushetia, killing at least one serviceman and wounding several others.

During the first five months of 2008 Ingushetia saw a sharp increase in assaults on law enforcement and military personnel. In 53 attacks a total of 12 police officers and four servicemen were killed and 46 law enforcement officers and 11 soldiers were injured.

In comparison only 15 similar attacks occurred during the same period in Ingushetia last year.