Ramadan: Al Qaeda Launches Amphibious Assault To Seize Diyala Village
Al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists have seized control of an village in the restive province of Diyala after a two-day battle with a rival Sunni insurgent group, police said on Wednesday.
Dozens of fighters from the Islamist extremist group arrived in boats on Monday and launched an attack on Al-Shuan village on the banks of the Diyala river, police Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim al-Obeidi said
Members of the rival Brigades of the 1920 Revolution fought back but the Sunni Arab village eventually fell to the Al-Qaeda militants.
Obeidi said the village had been attacked after its 300 or so inhabitants refused to align with Al-Qaeda in its fight against Iraqi and US security forces.
“Al-Qaeda militants attacked the village two days ago and took control of it (Tuesday),” said Obeidi.
Quoting villagers who escaped the assault, Obeidi said seven of the 30 houses in the village had been destroyed but he gave no casualty figures.
Many Sunni militants of the Brigades of the 1920 Revolution, an insurgent group formed to fight US forces in Iraq, have now joined with US and Iraqi troops to fight Al-Qaeda in Sunni Arab areas of Iraq.
They also offer protection to vulnerable Sunni Arab villages under threat from Al-Qaeda as it seeks recruits for its anti-American insurgency.
Diyala, the second most dangerous region in Iraq after Baghdad, has been the focus in the past few months of a concerted military crackdown by US and Iraqi troops.
According to US military commanders, dozens of fighters linked to Al-Qaeda have been killed or captured in the operation.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
Just give us the grid. Where do you want it dropped? C’mon Sunnis, show ‘em what your made of.
September 19th, 2007 at 4:20 amHaha Dan, I agree. Shake and Bake the whole village.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:11 amwtf, two days and no US or IA response big enough to beat these guys back? How long does it take to get there, are we really allowing this to happen?
September 19th, 2007 at 8:55 am