One occupation helicopter downed, two Americans killed in Iraq
Iraq-USA, Military, 5/4/2004

The American occupation forces said that one American soldier was killed in an attack that took place in al-Anbar province to the west of Iraq yesterday.

Earlier in the morning yesterday, one American soldier was killed and two others wounded in a fire exchange to the south of the Iraqi capital.

Meantime, news reports in al-Koufa said quoting sources at "Martyr al-Sader" office that the fighters of the al-Mahdi army of the Shiite clergy Muqtada al-Sader downed one American military helicopter in the city which is situated to the west of al-Najaf.

Parts of the plane crash were taken to a position controlled by al- Mahdi army.

In al-Najaf four Iraqi civilians and one Iraqi policeman were killed and other 16 injured in clashes that took place during an attack by shelling by al-Mahdi army at one American inspection point and base in the area which is situated between al-Koufa and al-Najaf. Smoke columns were seen coming out of the site of the attack.

The occupation forces retaliated by bombarding several positions in the city of al-Koufa using helicopters. Al-Najaf al-Ahli hospital was also bombarded.

Meantime, news reports in Baghdad said that several missile shelling fell in the surrounding of Baghdad's International Airport which is taken by the American occupation forces as a headquarters.

The escalation in al-Koufa and al-Najaf was met by a controversy over the role played by the Iraqi forces in protection of Falluja which was formed last Friday. One American military official asked to be anonymous said that al-Falluja contingent is a provisional force in charge of running the situation in the city and it will be desolved and dismantled as the situation is settled.

The ruling council in Iraq asked the occupation authority to appoint Lt, Gen. Jasem Saleh al-Muhammadawi as leader for Falluja because of his participation in oppressing the uprising of the Shiite and the Kurds in 1991 when thousands of Iraqis were killed.

The Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zeibari said in a press conference that there is no objection from the side of the governing council to appointing lt. Gen. Muhamad Latif as a commander for Falouja, as one American military source announced this news.

Previous Stories:
  Six American soldiers, five Iraqis killed, one American hostage escapes   (5/3/2004)
  Marines start today withdrawal from al-Falluja, 12 American soldiers killed   (4/30/2004)
  A bloody month in Iraq   (4/29/2004)
  Three American soldiers were killed, fighting renewed in al-Falluja   (4/29/2004)
  One American was killed in Iraq, Bremer brings back thousands of Baathists to their posts   (4/24/2004)
  Occupation warns Faluja: handing over weapons within days, otherwise the attack   (4/23/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search