Posted on 05/30/2005 5:16:27 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Iraq Insurgents in First Attack on Korean Troops
Korea's Zaytun Division in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil took cover late Sunday evening when four shells presumably fired by insurgents landed near the unit's base compound, the first direct attack on Korean troops since they were deployed to the area last September. There were no casualties among Korean soldiers or civilians, but the division's activity is likely to be curtailed for some time. "At around 11:00 p.m., there were blasts and flames as two shells landed in wheat fields 500 m south of the Zaytun Division base walls, and two more shells fell in the wheat fields about 200 m south of the base five minutes later,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday. Military authorities believe the blasts likely came from Soviet-made Katyusha rockets and 82 mm mortar shells.
A JCS official said, "Insurgent forces are presumed to have fled immediately after launching vehicle-carried rockets and mortars about 4-5 km away from the base walls." Kurdish militia forces have set up checkpoints and are patrolling the area 3-5 km outside the base walls.
Immediately after the incident, the Zaytun Division beefed up security and took shelter in underground entrenchments. At 11:40 p.m., U.S. helicopters started searching the area.
The incident follows suspension of the Zaytun Division's civil operations after a May 4 car bombing of a police recruitment station in downtown Irbil and intelligence of possible attacks on Korean troops. Meanwhile, political controversy is also possible over whether to accept a UN request for Korean troops to guard an office of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) being constructed in downtown Arbil.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
Here you go. If you could ping others that might be interested, that would be helpful.
Let's get this right. this isnt the first attack on Korean troops in Iraq, just this area.
We would get mortared and have rockets shot at us all the time at Camp Victory and there was a Korean contingent there.
Why not write the paper then and straighten them out?! Thanks.
I should :)
I wasn't criticizing you, but I wanted to get that out there. They do sort of mention that it is the first attack in the area they are in, but they dont say that it isnt the first attack on them in Iraq.
the first direct attack on Korean troops since they were deployed to the area last September
Perhaps it is in issue with the headline editor.
Is there an echo in here? I'll see what Donga news and Hankook Ilbo say, too. :-)
Don't mess with the South Korean military. They are tough, disciplined, and very, very capable.
They also hold a grudge.
Yeah...
well I tend to headline skim sometimes and that is what first caught my eye. Since I have firsthand knowledge to the contrary, I wanted to get it out there for the other headline skimmers :)
If these guys are anything like the guys in the Tiger and White Horse Divisions in Nam, they won't play nice.
..heard about that in Readers Digest...and amongst other things (from USA troops there)..very, very tough on the viet mith/cong.
You play a valuable role. Thanks.
Yes. You do NOT want to piss off any Korean. In uniform or out of uniform. Male or Female. Young or Old. Not good. Hide the scissors.
no problem :)
have a good Memorial Day
THank You, for your service, Sir. :))
Thanks
I was just over there as a contractor.
The soldiers are the ones paying every day. I didnt have to do patrols...
There were no casualties among Korean soldiers or civilians, but the division's activity is likely to be curtailed for some time.
This does not sound like the Korean Army I was a little familiar with.
Hi Mike, I remember the ROKS as some of the toughest bastards in uniform. Can you share if they are going on patrol or are they just in logistics/support?
the people I was around were headquarters types, but they looked like our Marines in every way....tough looking guys....
Iraq Insurgents - Please make my day, pi$$ off the ROK's. There'll be little pieces of insurgents spread all over Iraq.
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