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SAS troops in front line against suicide bombers
Australian SAS troops in western Iraq are involved in intercepting hostile forces coming from Jordan and Syria amid concerns that suicide bombers from neighbouring Arab states are trying to join the jihad against the US-led war effort. Asked what steps the coalition was taking to stop the potential suicide bombers entering Iraq, US military spokesman Brigadier-General Vince Brooks said special forces were under orders to "eliminate" freedom of movement. "We have interdicted people and turned them back," he said. "We are denying freedom of movement in the western desert and have been very effective.""Welcome to the Baghdad Express. Please have your tickets ready to be punched!" Australia's commander in the Middle East, Brigadier Maurie McNarn, has confirmed that Australia's special forces are in western Iraq, where they were seen on the weekend patrolling roads 80 kilometres from Baghdad checking vehicles. It is on those roads that busloads of expatriate Iraqis and others, including potential suicide bombers, are trying to flood back into Iraq to repel the coalition forces. It is believed that an Australian is high up in the command structure directing special forces in western Iraq. At the outset of the conflict, the special forces were given the task of hunting down missile sites that could be used to send weapons of mass destruction into Israel. Several missile sites have been destroyed and recent intelligence has suggested that task has substantially changed. Looks like the feared "Scud Box" turned into a pine box. But the task has been augmented as the phenomena of suicide bombers and jihadists becomes a new threat facing the coalition. A spokeswoman for the Australian contingent at central command in Doha said: "We don't comment on current operations." "We're busy, call back later" Posted by: Steve 2003-04-01 |
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