Posted on 03/21/2009 1:44:06 PM PDT by Son House
At approximately 5 p.m., a convoy consisting of at least five sport utility vehicles entered the Karbala compound. The armed militants wore American-looking uniforms and carried U.S.-type weapons convincing Iraqi checkpoints to allow their passage.
Once inside the compound, an estimated nine to 12 armed militants engaged the American troops with rifle fire and hand grenades.
While defending the command post, one Soldier was killed and three others were wounded by a hand grenade thrown into the center's main office which contains the provincial police chief's office on an upper floor.
During the attack in the main building, Soldiers defending it reported hearing a series of explosions in the compound causing the Soldiers to seek cover. Three U.S. military Humvees were damaged from the explosions.
The attackers broke off the assault withdrawing from the compound with four captured U.S. Soldiers.
The insurgents then drove out of the Karbala province and into neighboring Babil province, encountering an Iraqi police checkpoint. The sport utility vehicles passed through the checkpoint, but the Iraqi police trailed the vehicles, suspicious of the group.
After proceeding further east and crossing the Euphrates River, the assailants drove north toward Hillah, abandoning five SUVs, U.S. Army-type combat uniforms, boots, radios and a non-U.S. made rifle.
Iraqi police in pursuit found the abandoned vehicles and equipment near the Iraqi town of Al Mahawil.
Two Soldiers were found handcuffed together in the back of one of the SUVs.
Both had suffered gunshot wounds and were dead. A third Soldier was found shot and dead on the ground. Nearby, the fourth Soldier was still alive, despite a gunshot wound to the head. The Iraqi police rushed the severely wounded Soldier to a nearby hospital, but the Soldier died enroute.
"The precision of the attack, the equipment used and the possible use of explosives to destroy the military vehicles in the compound suggests that the attack was well rehearsed prior to execution," said Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl, spokesman for Multi- National Division-Baghdad.
"The attackers went straight to where Americans were located in the provincial government facility, by-passing the Iraqi police in the compound," said Bleichwehl. "We are looking at all the evidence to determine who or what was responsible for the breakdown in security at the compound and the perpetration of the assault."
Bleichwehl said the U.S. Soldiers of the Karbala compound demonstrated uncommon courage and valor.
"Our hearts go out to the families of the fallen warriors from Karbala," he said. "They were true heroes who fought to the last."
Air Cavalry crews see higher-tech attacks, weapons from Iran
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14767&Itemid=224
BAGHDAD — Air cavalry helicopter pilots have had to change their tactics to adapt to newer and higher-tech surface-to-air missile systems that officials believe are coming in from Iran, a senior official in Iraq said Friday.
Crews from 1st Air Cavalry Brigade out of Camp Taji have flown support for operations in and around Baghdad for more than a year. Since their arrival, there has been an increase in the sophistication of attacks and types of weapons, Army Col. Daniel J. Shanahan said in a conference call with military analysts.
“In the last several months, we have had an increased threat from systems that we had not seen in the first part of the year,” Shanahan said. Some of them originated in “places like Iran,” he said, causing considerable change in tactics, techniques and procedures.
Iranian Rockets Found, Turned Over to Coalition Forces
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15692&Itemid=224
Iraqi civil defense personnel delivered 14 107 mm Iranian rockets and fuses to the Kazakhstani Soldiers, said 1st Lt. Almaz Mukashev, the Kazakhstani liaison officer. The rockets were manufactured in 2006.
The Iraqi civil defense personnel have turned over munitions to Coalition forces before, but this was the first delivery of Iranian weapons to Coalition forces, said Col. Peter Baker, the 214th Fires Brigade commander.
“This is another indication of the cooperation of Iraqi officials who in all earnestness want to have a better society,” Baker said. “They know these rockets are here illegally and that they are here to maim and kill Iraqi security forces and Coalition forces.”
Ping.
Heads had better roll on this one.
It didn’t take long, did it. He won’t want to greet these widows, either. Just like he didn’t greet the Gold Star Wives at Camp Lejeune. Now look for Michelle go to the base next to theirs and have tea with all the Blue Stars for BO. Again.
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