IRAQ: Militant group shows video of what it says is attack which killed 10 U.S. marines in Falluja.

Record ID: 354816

  • Title: IRAQ: Militant group shows video of what it says is attack which killed 10 U.S. marines in Falluja.
  • Date: 4th December 2005
  • Summary: CLOSE OF (SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) EYEWITNESS, ABU SARHAN, SAYING: "Yesterday at approximately 1100 in the morning (0800 GMT) a roadside bomb went off as a U.S. convoy with a number of personnel carriers carrying a large number of troops was driving here. The bomb destroyed one of the personnel carrier vehicle, which was full of soldiers. We do not know the exact number of the c
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA63MB04TGG9B5GDOMKGBX3RYF1
  • Story Text: An Iraqi militant group posted a video on Saturday (December 3) which showed what it said was an explosion against a U.S. patrol near Fallujah that killed 10 U.S. Marines. The U.S. military had said 10 U.S. Marines were killed near Fallujah on Thursday (December 1). The group, the Islamic Army in Iraq, is among several insurgent organisations battling U.S. troops and Iraqi forces. The brief video shows a Humvee, flanked by what look like U.S. troops, travelling slowly down a street when an explosion engulfed the vehicle, sending clouds of dust into the air and bystanders fleeing. An off-camera voice was heard saying "Allah is Great" repeatedly. The video's authenticity could not be verified but it was posted on a Web site generally used by insurgents to claim attacks. Al Jazeera television had earlier aired the video. An accompanying statement by the group said it had also killed and injured other U.S. troops in a battle on Saturday in Duluyia, a town north Baghdad. The group also claimed the killing of three U.S. soldiers in Nassiriyah. Analysts say the Islamic Army in Iraq is believed to be linked the Saddam Hussein's deposed Baath party. The U.S. said Thursday's attack on the Marines, two weeks before Iraqis vote for a new parliament, struck a foot patrol near Falluja. Eleven Marines were wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED). "The patrol was attacked with an IED fashioned from several large artillery shells," the Marines said. U.S. commanders have expressed concern in recent months at the increasing use of more powerful and sophisticated roadside bombs. The high death toll on Thursday indicated an extremely powerful blast. Typically, U.S. troops keep themselves well spaced out when on foot patrols to avoid the risk of mass casualties. Local officials in Falluja said they were aware of another bomb attack on U.S. troops overnight near Amiriya, 30 km (20 miles) south of Falluja. U.S. officials declined further comment, however, and it was unclear if this was the same incident. A small crater could be seen in the middle of the road leading to Falluja and a pair of binoculars were lying nearby. U.S. troops could also be seen close to the area. An eyewitness saw the incident and said it was a roadside bomb attack that happened on Friday. "Yesterday at approximately 1100 in the morning (0800GMT) a roadside bomb went off as a U.S. convoy with a number of personnel carriers carrying a large number of troops was driving here. The bomb destroyed one of the personnel carrier vehicle, which was full of soldiers. We do not know the exact number of the casualties. After that they (U.S. troops) started to fire and we could not approach the site. Any one who try to approach will be killed definitely," said Abu Sarhan, a resident of the area. In August, 14 Marines were killed when a landline destroyed their armoured vehicle near Haditha in western Iraq. Other heavy tolls have been inflicted on Americans when helicopters have been brought down and when a suicide bomber devastated a U.S. army mess hall last December in Mosul, killing 21 people. Falluja was the site of the biggest battle since U.S. forces toppled Saddam Hussein in April 2003 -- dozens of troops and hundreds of Iraqis were killed in the city, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad in November last year.
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