Aussie E
04-12-2004, 09:58 AM
From www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Suicide bomb belts found in Iraq
By Lourdes Navarro in Fallujah
April 12, 2004
AMERICAN troops have discovered US military uniforms and suicide explosive belts in an insurgent cache hidden in a house, raising concerns of a new rebel tactic of slipping close to the troops and blowing themselves up.
Marines yesterday examined a house discovered three days earlier where two suicide belts were found. The new search revealed three more belts and a carton with "82nd Airborne" stamped on the top that was full of US Army-issued desert fatigues, said Lt Col Brennan Byrne, commander of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
The discovery of the house was first reported on Thursday, after troops shot and killed two men who approached their positions and were found to be wearing two more belts bearing plastic explosives and metal for shrapnel.
"The body bombs were a big deal. No one wants to have their guys blown up," Byrne said after the further search yesterday.
Byrne said the discovery suggested attackers intended to use the uniforms to get close to Marine positions, then set off their explosives. Also found in the house were several Iraqi identification cards.
Suicide tactics had not previously been seen in Fallujah since Marines began their assault a week ago aiming to uproot Sunni insurgents who have made the city their stronghold.
Byrne said it was not clear from the discovery whether an al-Qaeda-trained foreign cell was operating in Fallujah or if local militants were intending to use suicide tactics.
Military commanders, though, say several foreign fighters have entered Fallujah and infiltrated the ranks of the insurgents. In the past week, at least five - including a Syrian, an Egyptian and a Sudanese - have been detained in the Marines' siege of the city.
A search of the house also found sacks full of chemical-coated rocks, leather belts stuffed with explosive putty, boxes of batteries with wires taped to them and bomb-making instructions, The Washington Post reported today.
Islamic books, pamphlets, tapes and farewell letters in Arabic also found suggested that some of the men were not Iraqis, but foreign Sunni Muslims who came here to fight in a holy war, the newspaper said.
It quoted an unidentified US Marine captain as saying a 16-member terror cell was operating from the site.
There have been scores of suicide attacks, mostly using car or truck bombs, in other parts of Iraq, including against Iraqi defence forces, the Red Cross and United Nations.
Suicide bomb belts found in Iraq
By Lourdes Navarro in Fallujah
April 12, 2004
AMERICAN troops have discovered US military uniforms and suicide explosive belts in an insurgent cache hidden in a house, raising concerns of a new rebel tactic of slipping close to the troops and blowing themselves up.
Marines yesterday examined a house discovered three days earlier where two suicide belts were found. The new search revealed three more belts and a carton with "82nd Airborne" stamped on the top that was full of US Army-issued desert fatigues, said Lt Col Brennan Byrne, commander of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
The discovery of the house was first reported on Thursday, after troops shot and killed two men who approached their positions and were found to be wearing two more belts bearing plastic explosives and metal for shrapnel.
"The body bombs were a big deal. No one wants to have their guys blown up," Byrne said after the further search yesterday.
Byrne said the discovery suggested attackers intended to use the uniforms to get close to Marine positions, then set off their explosives. Also found in the house were several Iraqi identification cards.
Suicide tactics had not previously been seen in Fallujah since Marines began their assault a week ago aiming to uproot Sunni insurgents who have made the city their stronghold.
Byrne said it was not clear from the discovery whether an al-Qaeda-trained foreign cell was operating in Fallujah or if local militants were intending to use suicide tactics.
Military commanders, though, say several foreign fighters have entered Fallujah and infiltrated the ranks of the insurgents. In the past week, at least five - including a Syrian, an Egyptian and a Sudanese - have been detained in the Marines' siege of the city.
A search of the house also found sacks full of chemical-coated rocks, leather belts stuffed with explosive putty, boxes of batteries with wires taped to them and bomb-making instructions, The Washington Post reported today.
Islamic books, pamphlets, tapes and farewell letters in Arabic also found suggested that some of the men were not Iraqis, but foreign Sunni Muslims who came here to fight in a holy war, the newspaper said.
It quoted an unidentified US Marine captain as saying a 16-member terror cell was operating from the site.
There have been scores of suicide attacks, mostly using car or truck bombs, in other parts of Iraq, including against Iraqi defence forces, the Red Cross and United Nations.