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| Iraq |
| 120 Ansar gunnies dead as mop-up continues |
| 2003-03-30 |
| Kurdish guerrillas working with U.S. special forces attacked well-trained Islamic militants allegedly linked to al-Qaida - an operation that one Kurdish leader said left at least 120 militants dead and dealt "a very serious blow" to terrorism. Heavy machine gun fire and bombardment were reported Saturday around the northeastern city of Halabja near positions of the Ansar al-Islam extremists, who have been under sporadic attack by U.S. forces for a week. Barham Saleh, prime minister of the Sulaymaniyah-based Kurdish government that is a U.S. ally, told The Associated Press the attack on the militants was important in the war against terror. He added that many of those killed were Afghan Arabs who had fought and trained in Afghanistan. "It was a very tough battle," said Saleh. "You're talking about a bunch of terrorists who are very well-trained and well-equipped." On Friday, thousands of Kurdish rebels swept through Ansar's stronghold, dislodging many of the militants from mountain villages they controlled. Seventeen Kurds and between 120 and 150 Ansar militants were killed, Saleh said. I just hope to hell that's the end of them. Be really thorough with the mop-up... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |