U.S., Iraqi Forces Launch Major Assault

[andino]

QUOTE:

SAMARRA, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces launched a major assault Friday to regain control of the insurgent stronghold of Samarra, and hospital officials said at least 21 people were killed and 35 wounded.


Troops of the 1st Infantry Division, Iraqi National Guard and Iraqi Army moved into Samarra overnight, securing government and police buildings in the city 60 miles north of Baghdad, the U.S. command said in a statement. Explosions subsided by morning but gunfire could still be heard.


The offensive came in response to "repeated and unprovoked attacks by anti-Iraqi forces" against Iraqi and coalition forces, the military said in a statement. Its aim was to kill or capture insurgents in the city.

<snip>

[Englander]

1. 90 Killed in Major U.S. Assault in Iraq

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4527705,00.html


>>Troops of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division, Iraqi National Guard and Iraqi Army moved into Samarra after midnight in a bid to secure government and police buildings in the city 60 miles north of Baghdad. As they advanced, insurgents attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire, a military statement said.


>>It was not known if the push into Samarra represented the start of a larger campaign to retake several cities that insurgents have rendered ``no-go'' zones for U.S. and Iraqi troops. Officials have said that recapturing those cities is key before nationwide elections scheduled for the end of January.


>>Smoke was seen rising from the area around the Imam Ali al-Hadi and Imam Hassan al-Askari shrine, raising fears for one of the holiest sites for Shiite Muslims. O'Brien said the shrine was not damaged and Iraqi forces had secured the site.<<

[demnan]

2. Washington Post link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64483-2004Oct1.html

Wag the dog anyone?

[leftchick]

3. Many killed in US assault on Samarra.... 80 dead 100 wounded

Don't believe the people being showered with bombs. The US (Terrorists) says those smart, precision bombs seek out and destroy ONLY terrorists in heavy residential areas!!


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D9816F5A-8CC4-4D55-8E60-27111927472A.htm

<snip>
At least 80 bodies and more than 100 wounded were brought to Samarra General Hospital, said Dr Khalid Ahmad. The hospital was running out bandages, oxygen and other supplies, he added.

Residents cowered in their homes as tanks and warplanes pounded the city overnight. The sound of loud shelling mixed with the crackle of automatic gunfire continued into the morning.

At least three houses were flattened and dozens of cars charred, residents said.

"We are terrified by the violent approach used by the Americans to subdue the city," said Mahmud Salah, a 33-year-old civil servant. "My wife and children are scared to death and they have not being able to sleep since last night. I hope that the fighting ends as soon as possible."

[leftchick]

4. 96 Killed in Major U.S. Assault in Iraq

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041001/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716

<snip>
Troops of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division, Iraqi National Guard and Iraqi Army moved into Samarra after midnight in a bid to secure government and police buildings in the city 60 miles north of Baghdad. As they advanced, insurgents attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms, a military statement said.


Master Sgt. Robert Powell, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said 96 insurgents were believed killed during Friday's clashes. Dr. Khalid Ahmed said at least 80 bodies and more than 100 wounded were brought to Samarra General Hospital, but it was not immediately clear how many of them were insurgents. The hospital was running out of bandages, oxygen and other supplies, Ahmed said.


One American soldier was killed and four were wounded, Powell sai


It was not known if the push into Samarra represented the start of a larger campaign to retake several cities that insurgents have rendered "no-go" zones for U.S. and Iraqi troops. Officials have said that recapturing those cities is key before nationwide elections scheduled for the end of January

[Englander]

5. Both of the illegal occupiers (US,Israel) are..

launching major assaults today,is that anything more than a
coincidence,you think?

[leftchick]

6. no coincidences with those criminals....

sickening isn't it?

[Englander]

7. Yes, and looking on google for Samarra

http://www.google.com/search?q=samarra&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8


1200 yr-old mosques,tombs similar to Najaf,
looks like another Shia rebellion on the way.


This bloody mess is never-ending.

[livinbella]

16. very very sad when evil rules the day

[jmcgowanjm]

8. Message from Sun Tzu

Ground, although it may be contested, is not to be fought for
if one knows after getting it, it will be difficult to defend,
or that he gains no advantage by obtaining it, but will
probably be counterattacked and suffer casualties.

[bemildred]

9. Not fighting for ground.

This is about avoiding the appearance of impotence.
Can't just sit there while the troops get picked off in
ones and twos, that would make it too obvious what a
stupid situation this really is, so you have to attack
anything, something impressive, even if it has no military
value whatsoever, like a city full of civilians.

Sun Tzu would be laughing his ass off watching these clowns.

[lordwhorfin]

10. Actually . . .

I think he might softly play his mandolin and weep.

[bemildred]

17. They had mandolins in China in 500BC? nt

[jmcgowanjm]

18. Actually Bemildred, I was going to mention cities

Ground was the 4th of 5 variables.

#3-A city, although isolated and susceptible to
attack, is not to be attacked if there is the probability that it is
well
stocked w/ provisions, defended by crack troops
under command of a wise gen., that its ministers
are loyal & their plans unfathomable.

As in... Samarra

Resistance forces not only encircled the attacking Americans
but pounded them with powerful Tariq rockets (that have a
33km range) and Grad rockets (whose range is 24km) as
well as Katyusha missiles (the large one with a range of
11.3km, the small ones with a range of 8.3km). The
Resistance struck the Americans with 120mm mortar
rounds (range: 9.2km) and 120mm cannon with a range
of 7.2km. The Resistance also advance towards
Samarra’, closing its ring as it pounded the American
attackers.

[jmcgowanjm]

19. As a result of above

The US troops sought to get helicopter gunships to carry
out strikes on the Resistance positions. But the
helicopters themselves fell into a trap, as their
appearance made them easy targets for Resistance ground
fire, particularly since the region is an agricultural one,
enabling the Resistance fighters to observe the aircraft
from close range without exposing
themselves.

At 7:25pm a Black Hawk helicopter was downed, the first of
what was to be a spectacular series. It was followed by a
Cobra, then another Cobra.

[Englander]

11. Beautiful pics of Samarra(and Baghdad)from Feb'03

The Shrine of the hidden imam, where Muhammad al-Mahdi — the misterious 12th Si'i imam — went into concealment. He said to have spent his last days on earth in a cellar inside the shrine.



http://www.trekshare.com/index.cfm?p1=121&tripid=5416&page=7

[leftchick]

12. Thanks for posting them....

I remember reading a while back what a beautiful historic city Samarra is. Or was.... :(

[slojim240]

13. We won't stop until we completely destroy this beautiful historical nation

and all its beautiful people. I think this policy toward Iraq will only make for more terrorists who will not rest until they physically destroy a lot of the US. Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It's for that reason I don't want Kerry to be President now. The US is in for major blowback from our actions in Iraq and it won't take nuclear weapons this time either.

[jmcgowanjm]

20. The situation isn't hopeless

http://www.serendipity.li/jsmill/spencer04.htm

[Darranar]

14. 'Scores die' in Samarra assault

US and Iraqi forces have carried out a major offensive in the northern Iraqi town of Samarra to try to retake control from insurgents.

US troops say around 109 militants were killed, but doctors at the main hospital spoke of 80 dead and more than 100 hurt, among them civilians.

An Iraqi minister said 37 insurgents had been captured in the assault.

An interior ministry spokesman said US and Iraqi troops were now in control of about 80% of the mainly Sunni town.

BBC

Scores killed in US assault on Samarra

At least 80 people have been killed and over 100 wounded as US and Iraqi forces pounded Samarra, seizing the city hall and police stations, medics and the military said.

The early Friday morning attack amounted to the first major effort by US and Iraqi forces to reclaim parts of Iraq ahead of nationwide parliamentary elections scheduled for January.

...
"We are terrified by the violent approach used by the Americans to subdue the city," said Mahmud Salah, a 33-year-old civil servant. "My wife and children are scared to death and they have not being able to sleep since last night. I hope that the fighting ends as soon as possible."

Military officials said two US soldiers were injured.

Water and electricity services were cut off, and troops ordered residents to stay off the streets as they moved from house to house in search of insurgents. A 7 pm to 7 am curfew was announced through loud-hailers.

Aljazeera

[Darranar]

15. US pushes to take Iraq rebel town

US and Iraqi forces say they control most of the Iraqi town of Samarra after a major assault to root out insurgents.

Some 5,000 troops poured into Samarra during Friday in one of the biggest offensives since the invasion of Iraq.

US forces said around 109 militants were killed, but doctors said many of the dead and injured were civilians.

The Americans and Iraq's interim government say they are determined to retake rebel-held areas ahead of January's scheduled elections.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3709188.stm

[jmcgowanjm]

21. 12:55am Saturday morning local Resistance holds 70%of city

while the US and its stooges hold about 30 percent.
Clashes were still underway at that hour, and US forces
were still preventing food and medicine from getting into
the surrounded city.

Iraqi Resistance forces attacked the US base at Balad airport with
15 Katyusha rockets at about 1030pm local time Friday
night AND at the same time with 10 powerful Grad
missiles.
The reason for the especially massive Resistance attack
on
the American base is that it is the home base for some of
the troops that have gone out to attack the people of
Samarra’. Resistance forces have cut the area between
Balad and Samarra’, and have ambushed US troops on
the main road from Balad to Samarra’ and on the
agricultural road with bombs and RPG7 and
C5K rockets.

At about 8:10am Iraqi Resistance forces shot down a
US medical Black Hawk helicopter. Four American troops
were killed when the helicopter blew up in the air near the city
of Balad.