Islamic HQ falls to Iraqi Kurds

BBC ^ | 3/28/003 | Jim Muir

[kattracks]

Thousands of Peshmerga Kurdish guerrillas have overrun the main headquarters of a group of Islamic radicals in the mountains of north-eastern Iraq.

The Ansar al-Islam base at Biara fell several hours after the Peshmerga forces launched an offensive at dawn on Friday.

A senior official of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Peshmerga guerrilla group which carried out the operation in conjunction with US special forces, said that around 70 Ansar al-Islam adherents had been killed and that all their main centres had been overrun.

He said the survivors had fled into the mountains towards the border with Iran and he predicted that the area would be completely clear of them within 24 hours.

The operation also included American air support called in by the special forces who have been co-ordinating on the ground.

Both the Kurds and the Americans accuse the Ansar al-Islam of having links with terrorism and Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Iran's unease

After nearly a week of preparatory American air and missile strikes on Ansar positions, the battle to dislodge the Islamic faction got under way in earnest at first light on Friday.

More than 5,000 Peshmerga guerrillas had been mobilised for the campaign.

They began pushing from the west along several axes towards the mountain strongholds held by the Ansar.

American special forces were meanwhile on strategic hilltop locations providing some mortar and artillery fire and calling in air strikes from jets which were circulating almost constantly over the rugged mountains.

As the battle continued, loud explosions echoed through the area and plumes of black smoke rose into the sky.

This fight took place in the harshest terrain, with the rugged peaks which mark the border with Iran still mantled with snow.

Iran is known to be deeply unhappy about US forces conducting operations so close to its border.

But for the Americans, tackling a group which they regard as terrorists is something of an article of faith as that was one of the reasons given for their intervention in Iraq.

Neither they nor the Kurdish Peshmerga forces want the group to be left active behind their backs when they turn their attention to the Iraqi front lines to the south.

[kattracks]

Here it is.

[xm177e2]

The Ansar al-Islam base at Biara fell several hours after the Peshmerga forces launched an offensive at dawn on Friday.

But are they behind schedule? </sarcasm>

[ewing]

Sheesh, that was fast!

[Dog]

Thank you kat......I still can't get BBC to open for me..

Your a doll!!

[MarineDad]

He said the survivors had fled into the mountains towards the border with Iran and he predicted that the area would be completely clear of them within 24 hours.

Commence OPERATION ORKIN!

[craig_eddy]

But are they behind schedule?

Yes, this is starting to drag on as well. Not sure if the Kurdish people were expecting this to take so long.

[TADSLOS]

Iran is known to be deeply unhappy about US forces conducting operations so close to its border

Yeah, but they closed the door on Ansar al-Islam.

[Dog Gone]

Iran is known to be deeply unhappy about US forces conducting operations so close to its border.

Too bad.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks! This another example of why we need to get the real war news from Free Republic and FNC!

THIS JUST IN: "Americans who only watch ABCNNBCBS and only read the Compost, NY Slimes, Reuters or AP, are at risk for developing depression, shingles, and other DSM V symptoms and signs.

Rx : FREE REPUBLIC 1x q6h or prn" Rx : FREE REPUBLIC 1x q6h or prn"

[kattracks]

You're very welcome. Thank you for the heads up.

[aristeides]

The PUK has a little score to settle with the Ansar al-Islam after that suicide attack in Sulaimaniyah a couple of weeks ago.

[Dog]

When I hit the refresh button.....it's still hanging up on me.....odd!

[VeniVidiVici]

This has got to be a lie.

The Left keeps telling us that Hussein does not ally himself with radical Islamic fundamentalists (Islamofascists), so they can't possibly be operating on his soil. </s>

[Grampa Dave]

You know the Perfume General Whores of the Clintoon will spin this as another example of "We are behind schedule"

If the fairy princess generals on ABCNNBCBS were running this war, this would have happened before we dropped the first bomb on Saddam's luxury bunker.

[xm177e2]

We've had special forces in Northern Iraq for weeks now. Why did it take so long to organize the Kurds and defeat Ansar al-Islam? Doesn't this failure to meet the schedule point to larger deficiencies in our battle plan as a whole? Shouldn't we just admit defeat, pack up, and run home with our tail between our legs?

[chezjohn]

What does this Islamic HQ...and Lil' Miss Muffett have in common?
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They both have Kurds in their way!

[browardchad]

This can't be true. We were told the other day that we barely made a dent with our bombs at the Ansar-al-Islam camp, and that thousands of terrorists could not be overtaken by the Kurds since they lacked any significant U.S. support. (snicker)

I'm sure the BBC will monitor the situation closely for "significant setbacks."

[seams2me]

This is sounding more and more like Afghanistan, but the Hussein regime has been there much, much longer and therefore has a stronger hold on the country and the people have more fear of them. Liberation is long overdue.

[VRWC_minion]

Another day another quagmire.