Marines taken hostage: Al-Qaeda
From correspondents in Dubai
October 03, 2005
AL-QAEDA'S branch in Iraq has claimed the abduction of two US marines and threatened to kill them unless US forces released Sunni Muslim female prisoners within 24 hours, according to an Internet statement.
"The Al-Qaeda soldiers were able to take two so-called 'marines' captive after they encircled a foot patrol of the crusaders in the western region," Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Land of Two Rivers said.
The statement, whose authenticity could not be confirmed, said the patrol was taking part in "the so-called 'Iron Fist"' offensive along the Syrian border.
"Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Land of Two Rivers gives the crusaders 24 hours to release Sunni Muslim women from their and their (Shiite) lackeys' prisons ... in Baghdad, Mosul and elsewhere," said the statement posted on an Islamist website.
The statement, parts of which were reported earlier by the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera news channel, warned that unless the women prisoners were freed, the US army should "not bother to look for their sons."
"Let it be known to them that the mujahedeen (holy warriors) are itching to slaughter those (alleged hostages) ... to avenge the blood of the Sunni people being shed at their (Americans') hands and the hands of their stooges in the apostate (Iraqi) government," the statement said.
It was accompanied by the signature of the group's purported spokesman, Abu Maysara al-Iraqi.
When asked about the claim, a US military spokesman in Baghdad said that "As of now, we have no information to release."
On Saturday, the US military announced the start of Operation 'Iron Fist' in and around the village of Sadah in Iraq's restive Euphrates Valley, the latest offensive aimed at rooting out Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents in the border region.
A force of 1,000 troops backed by fighter aircraft and helicopter gunships have so far killed eight insurgents in the offensive aimed at improving security ahead of the vote on the country's post-Saddam Hussein constitution.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16796274%255E1702,00.html
Thanks freeperfromnj for that article.
Note: The following text is an exact quote:
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Oct2005/20051002_2914.html
U.S. Doubts al Qaeda Kidnapping Claim
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2005 – A full accountability check is under way today following what is believed to be a false al Qaeda claim of having kidnapped two U.S. Marines in western Iraq, Multinational Force Iraq officials said today.
A statement posted today on a Web site used by al Qaeda asserts the kidnappings and issues a 24-hour ultimatum to U.S. forces to release female Sunni Muslim prisoners, press reports said.
Military officials said there are no indications that the claims are true, but Multinational Force West is conducting checks to verify that all Marines are accounted for, officials said.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
The al Qaeda claim comes during Operation Kabda bil Hadid, or "Iron Fist," an offensive involving some 1,000 U.S. Marines, soldiers and sailors from Regimental Combat Team 2 cracking down on insurgents operating in Western Iraq.
The troops are engaging numerous terrorists in and around Sa'dah, some 12 kilometers east of the Syrian border, officials said.
Earlier today, terrorists forcibly entered and building and began firing on Marines, officials said. Unable to suppress the fire, the Marines fired one round from an M1A1 Abrams tank into the building, injuring five civilians. Officials said four of the civilians were treated for minor injuries and released and one was evacuated to Baghdad, where he is reported to be in stable condition.
This afternoon, a suicide bomber prematurely detonated his vehicle, killing one terrorist, officials said.
Shortly after, near Karabilah, Marines were engaged by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire from a building. They returned fire, killing eight terrorists, officials said.
Coalition forces have detained four terrorists, officials said, and no Marine casualties or kidnappings have been reported.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)
Related Site:
Multinational Force Iraq