Gunmen storm northern Iraq city (Samarra)

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Gunmen stormed the former insurgent bastion of Samarra in northern Iraq yesterday, killing at least two elite police commandos and injuring as many as six.

Witnesses said armed men in as many as 10 civilian cars marauded through Samarra, a historic Tigris River shrine city filled with archaeological treasures. They attacked a building used by security forces with mortars and rocket-propelled-grenade launchers. The gunmen then surrounded the hospital and began shooting at it until Iraqi and U.S. reinforcements showed up, witnesses said.

Samarra was the site of a U.S.-led assault last summer meant to rid the city of insurgents. Residents said tensions had peaked in the city after a Tuesday raid on a pharmaceutical factory by security forces.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002352783_iraq30.html

[Roland99]

1. I thought we cleared out Samarra and then cleared it out again later?

Guess the 3rd time's a charm!

:sarcasm:

[Igel]

2. But the most interesting clause is ...

"... after a Tuesday raid on a pharmaceutical factory by security forces."

[maddezmom]

3. always interesting to me when they use "gunmen"

not rebels, insurgents. etc. Perhaps more "death squads"? :shrug: