Attack launched on Zarqawi hideout

The Weekend Australian ^ | August 27, 2005 | Staff correspondents in Baghdad

[WmShirerAdmirer]

US forces launched multiple air strikes against a suspected hideout of the Al-Qaeda terror network in the restive Al-Anbar province of Iraq near the Syrian border Friday, the US military said.

Around 50 militants associated with Al-Qaeda frontman in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, were in a safe house in the border town of Husaybah at the time of the air strikes, it said.

"The terrorists were using their position to attack the residents of the city with small-arms fire," it added.

No casualty figures were immediately given.

US marines based in Husaybah have seen an escalation in fighting between Zarqawi gunmen and local tribes in the past five months, the military said.

Zarqawi's men have been wrestling with local tribes for control over the town, which is close to the Syrian border, where many foreign fighters are believed to be crossing into Iraq to join the insurgency, it added.

[Kurt_D]

Hopefully they killed as many as possible.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I hopw Al was there and is now nothing more than a grease spot in the sand.

[nuffsenuff]

50 militants in one house?

How big are these houses? And how bad does it smell in there?

[BushisTheMan]

US marines based in Husaybah have seen an escalation in fighting between Zarqawi gunmen and local tribes in the past five months, the military said.

News the OLD MEDIA doesn't want you to know.

Iraqis are giving tips to the Coalition. Iraqis are fighting the non-Iraqis coming into their country.

[coconutt2000]

Have you noticed that there are fewer and fewer reports of hapless civilian casualties?

Perhaps they've gotten smarter about avoiding the terrorists.

[Bon mots]

Around 50 militants associated with Al-Qaeda frontman in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, were in a safe house in the border town of Husaybah at the time of the air strikes, it said.
No casualty figures were immediately given.

I would guess around 50.

[Republican Red]

I hope Zarqawi and all his second lieutenants are dead.

News of Zarqawi's death would be a godsend right now.

[metalcor]

Reminds me of the video from the c-130 gunship in Afghanistan---picked them off one at a time as they scattered as rats will do. Picked them off may not give an accurate picture...they were killed in a most convicing manner.

[Laverne]

Even if we got Zarquawi in this hit, do you think the old media would report it? They have been working hard to make sure the polls say support for Bush is down.....a Zarquawi kill would bring those polls back up. I'm sure the old media would spike the story if we got him!!! :-)

[nuffsenuff]

LOL!

[nuffsenuff]

They would have to report it.

Of course, they would then do follow ups on how killing Zarqawi wouldn't end terrorism in Iraq or elsewhere, blah blah blah. They'd bring out experts and stuff.

[Dog]

A few more details in this article.

"The terrorists were using their position to attack the residents of the city with small-arms fire," it added. An airstrike called in to support the locals.

[Laverne]

Or they might blame it on Pat Robertson...afterall, they might consider this assination was ordered by Pat to cover his faux pax (sp) about assinating Chavez!

[MNJohnnie]

US marines based in Husaybah have seen an escalation in fighting between Zarqawi gunmen and local tribes in the past five months, the military said. Zarqawi's men have been wrestling with local tribes for control over the town, which is close to the Syrian border, where many foreign fighters are believed to be crossing into Iraq to join the insurgency, it added

[FreedomNeocon]

NEAR the Syrian boarder, or OVER the Syrian boarder.

'Chatter' at the underground sites is that we've are and have been in SE Syria for a few weeks now for just this kind of purpose...

[nuffsenuff]

I can live with that.

[Dog]

US marines based in Husaybah have seen an escalation in fighting between Zarqawi gunmen and local tribes in the past five months,

I think we just came down on the side of the local tribes...

[Republican Red]

Actually I do think the old media would report it. Zarqawi is too big to ignore.

I remember when we really thought they had him at one point. CNN gathered up as many democrats as they could find to report how Zarqawi really wasn't that big a deal, that he no longer wielded power, etc... CNN went on and on diminishing Zarqawi only to find out we really didn't have him. In a New York minute they changed their tune about what a big target we lost. It was quite eye opening.

However, that was a year ago. Zarqawi is none stop in the media now. His capture will be celebrated by all but the fringe/Sheehan lovers.

[Prince Charles]

US forces launched multiple air strikes against a suspected hideout of the Al-Qaeda terror network in the restive Al-Anbar province of Iraq near the Syrian border Friday...

I'm glad to see air power being employed. Now let's kick it up a notch.