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| Iraq-Jordan |
| U.S. forces in Baghdad prepare for insurgents attacks to move toward the capital |
| 2004-06-25 |
| By Associated Press Friday, June 25th, 2004 BAGHDAD, Iraq - After a series of attacks north and west of Baghdad, U.S. soldiers are trying to intercept guerrilla forces moving toward the capital, certain that insurgents will try to disrupt the handover of sovereignty next week. Soldiers set up checkpoints Thursday around the city of 8 million people to intercept weapons, guerrillas and bombs. They fear that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the militant who claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks in Fallujah, Mosul and elsewhere, plans a string of car bombings in Baghdad. ``There is clearly a transnational threat, as represented by al-Zarqawi, and that threats appears - based on what we’ve seen in Fallujah and Mosul today - to want to bring the attack to Baghdad,’’ Col. Michael Formica, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division’s 2nd Brigade, said Thursday. Insurgents launched coordinated attacks against police and government buildings across Sunni Muslim areas of Iraq on Thursday, killing more than 100 people, including three American soldiers, and wounding more than 320, Iraqi and U.S. officials said. Most of the deaths were in Mosul, where 44 people were killed and more than 220 injured in attacks that included a string of car bombs. Clashes also occurred in Baqouba, Ramadi, Baghdad and other areas. In Baghdad, insurgents attacked four Iraqi police stations using mortars, hand grenades and assault rifles on Wednesday and Thursday. Police fought back, and defended the stations with minimal assistance from coalition forces, a U.S. statement said. Formica, who commands the troops in west Baghdad, patrolled his area Thursday, checking on Iraqi National Guard units and their American instructors as they set up the checkpoints and searched cars and trucks. ``Using Iraqi forces predominantly, we have set up checkpoints on the major roads leading into Baghdad,’’ Formica said. ``In addition, we execute what we call snap checkpoints along secondary roads at random times.’’ At neighborhood council meetings earlier this week, Iraqi civilian leaders asked U.S. commanders to set up roadblocks to help prevent attacks. Formica said his troops were also gathering information on insurgent hideouts and conducting raids to capture the guerrillas before they can carry out attacks. ``We conduct offensive operations ... to defeat them before they are ever able to conduct their terrorist attacks,’’ Formica said. ``But perhaps most important ... is to gain the support of the Iraqi people.’’ U.S. forces had anticipated that insurgents loyal to al-Zarqawi and other Iraqi groups opposed to Iraq’s new interim government would step up attacks ahead of the June 30 handover. Iraqi civilians at neighborhood meetings said they had heard rumors of widespread attacks planned for after June 26 and of criminal groups planning to use the fighting to launch a looting spree. U.S. officers believe the insurgents’ goal is to discredit the U.S.-led coalition that has occupied Iraq, as well as the new government expected to take over July 1. In Thursday’s attacks, Iraqi police - entrusted to take a larger role in security after the hand over of power - appeared outgunned and unable to hold positions outside of Baghdad. American troops raced to offer support, using aircraft, tanks and helicopters to repel the guerillas. Al-Zarqawi’s group, the Tawhid and Jihad movement, claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement on an Islamic Web site. The statement said that members of the ``martyrs’ battalion’’ had carried out a number of ``blessed operations.’’ Formica said his troops would not allow the insurgents to get a foothold in Baghdad. ``The soldiers of this brigade are committed to the defense and the forward progress and sovereignty of this nation and we will fight alongside - and if need be bleed and die - with the people of Iraq to ensure that happens,’’ he said. The Boston Herald |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |