| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq-Jordan |
| Al-Qaeda safe house boomed |
| 2005-09-09 |
| A coalition air strike has demolished what authorities believe was an al Qaeda-linked terrorist safe house in the western Iraqi city of al-Jaramil and a man believed to be a foreign fighter facilitator was killed, Multi-National Forces officials said early Thursday. Abu Ali, described by the military as a "senior al Qaeda foreign fighter facilitator," was believed to be in the house at the time of the strike on Wednesday, authorities said. They added Ali has been linked to other al Qaeda terrorists and facilitators in Hit, al Qaim, Karabila and Husayba. He also had al Qaeda connections in the Mosul area, officials said, including one man captured in June and another man killed in August. Ali was also thought to have al Qaeda connections in Syria and Saudi Arabia where most of his foreign fighters were recruited, the military said in a written statement. He was believed to have funneled the foreign fighters into Iraq and sent them to various terrorist groups, where they participated in attacks against Iraqi citizens along with Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces, authorities said. After the air strike, coalition forces saw large secondary explosions, indicating that a large weapons cache was destroyed, the military said. Meanwhile, a car bomb detonated in a popular Basra neighborhood Wednesday evening, killing 16 civilians and wounding 21 others, authorities said. Two women and two children were among the dead, according to an Iraqi army official said. U.S. authorities also reported they had freed Roy Hallums, a U.S. contractor kidnapped in Baghdad 10 months ago. Earlier Wednesday, four American private security contractors were killed when their vehicle, part of a U.S. diplomatic convoy, struck a roadside bomb in southern Basra, a western official in Baghdad told CNN. The improvised explosive device detonated at the foot of the Ghazyza bridge about 8:30 a.m. (0430 GMT). Three contractors were killed on the spot, the official said. One was flown to a hospital and later died of injuries. The diplomats were attached to the U.S. consulate in Basra. No details are known about the convoy's mission. A car bomb also exploded near a western convoy in central Baghdad Wednesday, injuring five bystanders, Iraqi police said. The convoy continued unharmed. The parked car detonated around 9 a.m. in the capital's Karrada neighborhood. Less than three hours later, an official with the Ministry of Defense was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in southern Baghdad's Dora neighborhood, police said. Killed in the attack was Hassan Umran. His driver was wounded. At about the same time, police found the bullet-riddled bodies of three men near a water purification plant in the Rustumiye section of southeastern Baghdad. Police said the bodies were dumped without identification. Iraqi police Wednesday said a U.S. Army Humvee was seen burning along the Mohammed al-Qasim highway in eastern Baghdad. A spokeswoman with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division said three U.S. soldiers were wounded when their convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device. At least one of the injured was in critical condition and medevaced to a field hospital. Around midday, a top officer with Iraqi police commandos was killed after gunmen fired on his convoy in western Baghdad. According to Baghdad police, Col. Imad Ismail Thyab was shot and killed in the Ghazaliya neighborhood when the attackers in two cars opened fire. Three other police commandos were wounded in the attack. Amid the carnage Wednesday was some good news: Roy Hallums, an American hostage snatched off the Baghdad streets in November, has been rescued and freed. The U.S. military said it freed Hallums and an Iraqi from a farmhouse south of Baghdad after getting information about their whereabouts from an Iraqi detainee. The military said Hallums released this statement after his release: "I want to thank all of those who were involved in my rescue -- to those who continuously tracked my captors and location, and to those who physically brought me freedom today. To all of you, I will be forever grateful. "Both of us are in good health and look forward to returning to our respective families. Thank you to all who kept me and my family in their thoughts and prayers." Hallums' ex-wife, Susan, also told CNN of his release. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #4 Gonna have to come up with another name for those things. |
| Posted by: BH 2005-09-09 10:50 |
| #3 Occupational hazard. These boomers have got to be flinching when they hear any unusual noises. Two women and two children among the dead, but, bless Allah, no baby ducks or ass clowns. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-09-09 05:24 |
| #2 Roy Hallums, an American hostage snatched off the Baghdad streets in November, has been rescued and freed. The U.S. military said it freed Hallums and an Iraqi from a farmhouse south of Baghdad after getting information about their whereabouts from an Iraqi detainee. One lucky sob, talk about hard time..10 months with those animals, that be stress. God bless him and his family and thanks to our military folks. |
| Posted by: Red Dog 2005-09-09 03:29 |
| #1 Not so safe, huh? |
| Posted by: Jackal 2005-09-09 00:23 |