U.S. Warplanes Pound Targets in Fallujah

MSNBC ^ | Nov. 5, 2004 | Sameul Haque

[Sameul Haque]

NBC News and news services Updated: 6:14 p.m. ET Nov. 5, 2004 NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq - As U.S. jets pummeled targets in what residents of Fallujah called the strongest attacks in months, more than 10,000 U.S. troops had taken positions around the rebel-controlled city Friday, bolstering the U.S. Marine units expected to lead a joint Army-Marine assault. U.S. soldiers blocked key roads, while Iraq sealed a crossing into Syria and interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi warned that the “window is closing” for a settlement to avert the offensive. Residents reached by telephone said U.S. aircraft were striking targets in the central city market that had not been hit since April. There was no confirmation from U.S. officials. Earlier in the day, U.S. planes dropped leaflets urging women and children to leave the city, residents said. As pressure mounted on the guerrilla stronghold, the insurgents struck back, killing a U.S. soldier and wounding five others in a rocket attack. Clashes were reported at checkpoints around the city and in the east and north of Fallujah late in the day. U.S. and Iraqi officials want to clear insurgents from Fallujah and other Sunni Muslim areas north and west of Baghdad so elections can be held by the end of January. U.S. officials plan to use a mixed U.S. and Iraqi force to storm Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, if Allawi gives the go-ahead. ‘Awaiting orders’ from Allawi “We are almost ready. We are making last preparations. It will be soon. We are just awaiting orders from Prime Minister Allawi,” U.S. Marine Col. Michael Shupp, commander of Regimental Combat Team One, told Reuters. Allawi, for his part, said Friday that time was running out, vowing to liberate the city from what he called “terrorists.”

[TexKat]

Raw footage

Gunfire Surround Falluja

[fso301]

You really have to question the inteligence of someone who wants to hang around when the drone of a circling turboprob is overhead.

[TexKat]

Ping to post #21

[TexKat]

inteligence

Intelligence is surely lacking.

[John_7Diamonds]

I doubt if any iraqi has survived that many battles. Maybe 2.

John

[ApesForEvolution]

I agree. It's time to play for keeps and make some statements...the kind that end with exclamation marks.

[ApesForEvolution]

TFTP

I'm having media-player challenges on a back-up 'puter...do you have a brief description?

[cynicom]

The AF will give everyone medals, the grunts will still have to go in and do the bleeding and dying, they will get nothing.

[mlocher]

The 300,000 terrorist insurgents in Fallujah had come to their senses especially the women and children. The crybaby liberals will be whining about this for decades, but we gotta do what we gotta do to liberate Iraq.

the crybaby liberals only cry about the things they see on tv. this will not have much coverage because it will be a MAJOR VICTORY now that the decision has been made to win. don't expect a liberal backlash on this latest assault. besides, too many of them are crying in their beer right now to give a hoot about what is going on 6 inches beyond their nose.

[Zechariah11]

What are you talking about!! They are trying to kill American soldiers and any Iraqi who tries to cooperate with us. We've also let the civilians have time to get out.

Sheeeesh!

[TexKat]

Could not see much because it is nighttime there, but the rat tat tat of repeated gun fire. Gun battle. Flashes in the dark. I can't tell what types of weapons.

[ApesForEvolution]

Thanks for the report, muchas gracias...