Ansar al-Islam prepares for suicide attacks

Daily Times - Pakistan ^ | Tuesday, April 01, 2003 | AFP

[ibme]

Ansar al-Islam prepares for suicide attacks

DUBAI: The militant movement Ansar al-Islam, which Washington links to Al Qaeda and has attacked repeatedly in Iraqi Kurdistan during the war, has redeployed and is preparing suicide attacks against coalition forces, a statement on an Islamist webpage said on Monday.

The statement signed by “the Ansar al-Islam commmand” said that “after the air strikes on its bases in northern Iraq by the Crusader invaders, it has decided to move the bases of the mujahideen so as not to be a direct target of air attacks. “Our bases in northern Iraq were completely evacuated Thursday night and the mujahideen, with all their weapons, have redeployed to new positions better suited for the coming battles,” said the statement, which appeared at groups.yahoo.com/group/abubananIt said “Ansar al-Islam’s emir in Kurdistan,” Abu Abdullah al-Shafei, had in a message “to the Muslims of Kurdistan, Iraq and the world” threatened “martyrdom operations (suicide attacks) against the American and British Crusader forces.”

It claimed that “more than 300 martyrdom fighters have renewed their devotion to God” ahead of suicide attacks. “We will make Iraq a cemetery for the Crusaders and their servile agents,” it said.

Ansar al-Islam, or the Supporters of Islam, has come under frequent air attack since the US-led coalition launched the war March 20 to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers, said Sunday US forces and their Kurdish allies had captured a camp run by Ansar in northeastern Iraq that may have been a safe haven for Al Qaeda. “Some of the bodies that we have recovered, enemy bodies that have been recovered up there, are not Iraqis, they’re not Iranians. We don’t know for sure, but they’re most likely Al Qaeda,” Myers told CNN.

Ansar al-Islam is suspected in a suicide car bombing March 22 that killed an Australian journalist in northern Iraq. The attack came after Ansar positions were attacked by some 50 cruise missiles.

Four US troops were also killed on Saturday in central Iraq in a suicide attack carried out by an Iraqi officer. —AFP

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Human Rights News / Ansar al-Islam in Iraqi Kurdistan

[TheLooseThread]

Excellent! Suicide attacks are great news.

Homicide attacks are bad, but this is great news!

[geedee]

Ansar al-Islam prepares for suicide attacks

U.S. Marines prepare for turkey shoot.

[xJones]

Yes, 4 American troops were took by surprise and killed. It called the "fool me once..." scenario. What these imbeciles don't realize is that this won't be the same as sneaking into an Israeli pizza place, packed with unsuspecting women and children. From now on, innocent Iraqis will have a hard time of it, because we can't trust any of them. And they'll be facing soldiers with machine guns, not women tending baby carriages. Jihad won't be as much fun.

[genefromjersey]

On Fox News today, American troops who over ran Ansar El Islam positions found documentation the "brigade" is made up of both Shiite and Sunni Muslims; that some came from Iran; others from Yemen, Saudi Arabia,Syria, Pakistan, Turkey, and Afghanistan.

In short, the Al Qaeda concept crosses "denominational lines", as well as national boundaries.

[Arpege92]

"In short, the Al Quaeda concept crosses "denominational lines", as well as national bounderies."


So does the make up of the United States Military! What makes us different however is we fight for the peace of all man and not the safety of a madman....Saddam!

[genefromjersey]

Well said !

I remarked on the mixture only because there are those who insist the different factions of Islam are "incapable" of cooperating.

They've cooperated in Lebanon and other places, and we may have to deal with Iran sooner than anticipated. In fact, I would not put it past them to wait until Iraq has fallen, and we are tied up with mopping up operations,or otherwise at other than ideal combat strength : something like a pack of hyenas trying to snatch a lion's kill.

[Arpege92]

Yes, I know...they are just sitting their with their tongues hanging out! They claim to be indifferent to this war in Iraq but they also want us out as soon as Saddam is out! I suspect this could get very ugly.