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The
War Profiteers - War Crimes, Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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The Baghad/Basra Airstrikes |
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Background -
Baghdad/Basra, March 26th - April 3rd, 2008 “[…] The Iraqi Army said that, as a measure of its
success, it had killed more than 120 militia fighters and wounded some 450.
Our Iraqi local staff, from talking to hospitals, estimated there had been at
least 300 fatalities during the operation. Was the gap between the two
figures accounted for by civilian casualties? Certainly, one Basra official,
speaking by phone to an Arabic satellite channel, said that after two days of
fighting, more than 40 civilians had been killed. A photographer for the AFP
news agency said that in the aftermath of an air strike, he saw a woman and
two children among eight bodies. Local people said more bodies - civilians -
were inside four buildings damaged by the strike. […]” Excerpt
of a BBC News article
from March 30th, 2008. |
Destroyed house after U.S. airstrike in
Sadr City |
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April 4th, 2008 - Iraqi PM Freezes Raids
Targeting Militia 4 news
articles by the Associated Press, Agence France Presse, New York Times &
Al-Jazeera April 3rd, 2008 - Strike Kills Family Trio in
Iraq 2 news
articles by Reuters & the Associated Press April 1st, 2008 - Iraqi PM: Basra Operation a
‘Success’ 1 news
article by the Associated Press March 30th, 2008 - Britain and the Battle for
Basra 1 news
article by BBC News March 29th, 2008 - Police Say Basra Airstrike
Kills 8 1 news
article by the Associated Press March 28th, 2008 - US Forces Launch Airstrikes
in Iraq 1 news
article by the Associated Press March 26th, 2008 - Many Killed by U.S. Strike in
Iraq’s Hilla - Sources 2 news
articles by Reuters & Associated Press |
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April 3rd, 2008 - Coalition forces conduct airstrike
in Basra, two criminals killed Press
Release by the Multi-National Corps Iraq, Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory “[…] Coalition aircraft conducted a precision strike
on a house in Basra Wednesday, killing two criminals. While conducting operations
in support of Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition forces were attacked with
small-arms fire by two criminals on a rooftop. The ground force called in
supporting aircraft to engage the individuals. An F/A-18 carried out a
precision airstrike on the house, and Coalition forces on site confirmed that
two enemy were killed in the airstrike. “Coalition forces are unaware of any civilians
killed in the strike but are currently looking into the matter. ‘Coalition
forces continue to provide tactical overwatch with intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance platforms, and support aircraft, on an as-requested basis
from Iraqi Security Forces in Basra,’ said Cmdr. Scott Rye, MNF-I spokesman.
‘We go to extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of civilians when conducting
operations, unlike criminal elements, who consistently put innocent civilians
at risk.’ […]” March 29th, 2008 - Iraqi Special Operations
Forces engage, kill 22 in Basra Press
Release by the Multi-National Corps Iraq, Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory “[…] Iraqi Special Operations Forces engaged and
killed several criminal fighters in Basra March 29. The operation was
conducted in support of the Government of Iraq’s efforts to secure and
stabilize the city. The ISOF conducted the operation in a known criminal
stronghold in western Basra to disrupt criminal activities and capture
criminal leaders. […] “While engaged with hostile forces, ISOF and a
supporting U.S. Special Forces team identified additional armed criminal
elements in the area. A supporting Coalition forces aircraft identified enemy
forces on three roof-tops and engaged with precision gunfire after being
cleared by ground forces. Initial reports indicate 16 criminal fighters were
killed. […]” March 27th, 2008 - Iraqi Security Forces, U.S.
Special Forces engage criminal elements in Hillah Press
Release by the Multi-National Corps Iraq, Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory “[…] Hillah’s Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics
unit, advised by U.S. Special Forces, engaged Special Groups criminals in
Hillah, killing 14 and wounding 20 March 26. “Criminals armed with AK-47 assault rifles, rocket
propelled grenades and automatic machine guns attacked two companies of
Hillah SWAT as they were securing a road intersection. As a firefight
developed, a U.S. Special Forces team arrived and, fighting alongside SWAT,
began engaging the armed individuals. The criminal group broke contact after
delivering intense RPG and automatic weapons fire, and was seen by an Air
Weapons Team regrouping in three groups of 20 to 30 men near a mosque. “The AWT, from 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment,
3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, reported the armed individuals were maneuvering
back toward SWAT and the U.S. SF team, and, due to the hostile intent of the
act, engaged the threat from the air. One Hellfire missile was fired, killing
five. […]” |
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The Aftermath of the Airstrikes |
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Burying the dead |
Wounded girl in hospital |
Part of U.S. missile |
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Background 1) Iraqis look on, at the damage to house by an
airstrike, in Sadr City, in Baghdad, Iraq. Several people were injured in the
strike. - March 29th, 2008 - Karim Kadim/AP; The Aftermath of the Airstrikes 1) Men
carry a coffin of a person who was killed in last night's airstrike on a tent
where a memorial service was hels in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq. Two people
died and two were wounded in the attack, according to the witnesses. - March
29th, 2008 - Karim Kadim/AP; 2) A
medic helps a girl wounded in an American airstrike, in Sadr City, Baghdad,
Iraq. Ten people were injured in the strike Friday evening. - March 29th,
2008 - Karim Kadim/AP; 3) A man holds a part of the missile found after an
airstrike hit a home in Sadr City, in Baghdad, Iraq. Several people were
injured in the strike. - March 29th, 2008 - Karim Kadim/AP; |
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Back to the Second
Gulf War/Iraq Invasion II Back to U.S.
Department of Defense |
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