US Helicopter destroyed in Iraqi attack, tension after 2 soldiers are killed, 9 wounded
Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/28/2003

Tension overwhelms Falouja city, west of Baghdad, following the killing of two US soldiers and wounding many others in an attack by shells against the American forces following a series of similar attacks.

The American army announced that two American soldiers were wounded and other nine wounded in an armed attack against a barrier for the American forces in al-Falouja, west Baghdad, early morning yesterday.

A military spokesman said that the American soldiers retaliated the source of the fire in which light weapons, mortars and missiles shells were used, and killed two of the attackers and arrested 6. The statement said that investigations continue with the six detainees.

A statement by the American central leadership said that one military helicopter was damaged during fire exchange when it was attacked mistakenly by a patrol during maneuvers.

Eye- witnesses said that the American helicopter was downed by an RPJ missile and this resulted in several casualties.

News reports said that tension is prevailing in the city after the Monday evening attack which was not claimed by any side, and that a gathering of people around the place of the attack was almost changing into a demonstration against the American presence.

Moreover, uncommon barriers and American armored vehicles were deployed in the city.

Worthy mentioning that the American occupation forces imposed night curfew on al-Falouja since four days. Tension prevails in the city since the confrontation during which the American forces killed 16 demonstrators by the end of April.

Al-Falouja attack coincided with the announcement made by the American army on the killing of two American soldiers and wounding several others in an ambush and an explosion on Monday in one of the bloodiest days for the American forces since having control of Baghdad on April.

In a statement, the central leadership said that unidentified persons opened fire from automatic rifles and machine guns at an American patrol while in a routine mission for supplies near Haditha town, 180 Km to southern west of Baghdad, and this resulted in killing one American soldier.

Just hours later, an American patrol was blown up on the highway in Baghdad's quarters and this resulted in killing one soldier and wounding other three and destroyed their military vehicle.

In a hint to a likely increase in the number of such attacks, the American army announced that two other attacks took place yesterday. Another American statement said that a military police position in Baquoba to the north of Baghdad was attacked by mortars.

The statement added that soldiers from the fifth army searched for the attackers and opened fire twice and killed one woman who ignored the warning shots as she continued progressing towards them hiding two bombs, according to the statement.

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