Free Republic

Iraq has obtained inflatable, motorized boats from Yugoslavia for suicide missions against U.S. and allied forces in the Persian Gulf. Western intelligence sources identified the vessels as Zodiac-class boats procured from companies in the Balkans. The boats were purchased by Syria and smuggled into Iraq for use by a new suicide unit formed by the regime of President Saddam Hussein. Iraq has been actively recruiting members for various suicide units. Some of the units have been operating against Kurdish targets in northern Iraq. Others are being trained for missions against neighboring Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The boats are designed...