Katyusha rockets hit US post in Kirkuk

Mideast - AFP via Yahoo News ^ | 10/28/03

[TexKat]

KIRKUK, Iraq (AFP) - A US military post in the northern city of Kirkuk was hit by five Katyusha rockets, sparking relatiatory US shell fire, Iraqi police reported, without saying if there were any casualties.

They said a school in Kirkuk was also hit by a mortar Tuesday, and a bomb exploded in front of a dry cleaners used by the US forces.

"A US position located behind the technical college at the entrance of Kirkuk was hit by five Katyusha rockets," Lieutenant Ammar Hassan al-Abbadi said.

"The attack happened at 9:00 pm (1800 GMT) and the rockets were fired from the road heading toward Tikrit," said Abbadi.

US helicopters were flying overhead after the attack.

"Three hours later, American forces fired shells, with a range of seven to 10 kilometers (four to six miles), simultaneously from three positions in the town..," said the police officer.

"It is the first time since the (March-April) war that American forces have fired shells in Kirkuk.

"The area targeted is uninhabited. The American forces considered it a military target and attacked it with the aim of destroying the suspected bases of their assailants," said Abbadi.

He was unable to say if there were any casualties.

A mortar was also fired at a school in the east of the town, said police commander Khattab Abdallah Aref.

"The attack took place at 8:45 pm (1745 GMT) while the school was empty and there were therefore no casualties," he said.

In a third attack, a bomb exploded outside a dry cleaners used by US forces in Kirkuk, he said.

"The bomb exploded around 9:30 pm (1830 GMT) when the shop was closed. There were no casualties as the street was empty at the time," he said.

He said the bombing appeared to be a warning to the owner to stop working for the coalition.

On Monday, two car-borne assailants fired rocket-propelled grenades at the cleaners, badly damaging it but causing no casualties.

Kirkuk, 225 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, has become an active front in the war between the US military and insurgents since the start of the month, where violence previously had focused further south in the region around Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.

[bart99]

Hope that Rummy is working on a plan to re-start "major operations" again and do a nice sweep and clean up the remnants that are doing us damage!

[TexKat]

U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division soldiers gather outside a first aid station in Tikrit, 193 km (120 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003. One U.S. soldier was wounded when insurgents opened fire late Tuesday on the southern gate of the main U.S. military base in Saddam Hussein's hometown. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Iraqi police officers observe the scene after at least three mortars exploded late Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003 in Baghdad's Jadriya district across the Tigris River from the palace headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition, Iraqi police said. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

[TexKat]

I do to bart99, like now.

[Redleg Duke]

These dickheads learned the hard way what the Iraqi Army learned the hard way a few months ago. You shoot, You die!

Redlegs!

[PoorMuttly]

Smoke 'em out.

Then Smoke 'em.

[MEG33]

They are really observing Ramadan.

[livius]

Oh, but how better to observe it than with mass homicides? Allah loves that!

[livius]

Oh, but how better to observe it than with mass homicides? Allah loves that!

[MEG33]

I heard that some Iraqis were saying it couldn't be muslims..they wouldn't do such things.(Ha)

[24-7Freeper]

Hope that Rummy is working on a plan to re-start "major operations" again and do a nice sweep and clean up the remnants that are doing us damage!

Agreed. But my guess is that this is the work of foreign insurgents from Iran or Syria and not Iraqi. Either way, their time is up. Time for a serious mop up.

[livius]

Poor Iraqis, I guess it's hard for them to admit this. But Muslim extremists have been sending out messages to their "troops" for some time now, and I guess even the Iraqis may have to acknowlege it, ultimately.

Furthermore, this is supposed to be a special Ramadan, because it includes both a solar and a lunar eclipse. Hold onto your hats!

[a_Turk]

Don't worry, your Kurd allies will have your backs covered no problem..

[Jumper]

As the temperature begins to reach sustainable combat operations levels, US forces will once again go on the offensive, coupled with curfews and lockdowns, shooting anything at night in declared areas.

[yonif]

You are correct. It is a Hizbullah weapon of terror, which is supplied by Iran and Syria (gives you an idea of where those terrorists in Iraq are getting their equipment from).

[leadpenny]

Heard on the local news within the last hour. (WRC TV in DC):

After this attack there was another on an armored patrol in the same 4th ID AO. Two GIs KIA.

Going to MSNBC for IMUS. Charles will probably have the latest in a few minutes.

[leadpenny]

Cross reference: Two GIs Killed When Tank Attacked in Iraq

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I think our guys are getting close to Saddam.

"It is the first time since the (March-April) war that American forces have fired shells in Kirkuk.

"The area targeted is uninhabited. The American forces considered it a military target and attacked it with the aim of destroying the suspected bases of their assailants," said Abbadi.

~~~
Bad guys chose unwisely, again.
~~~

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[Coop]

Hope that Rummy is working on a plan to re-start "major operations" again and do a nice sweep and clean up the remnants that are doing us damage!

Counterinsurgency operations have been going on continuously for months.