Follow-up on that Mosul military base blast...

Twenty-two killed and 50 wounded in "an explosion" at a dining hall on the base.

"There were an unknown number of rounds in a rocket and mortar attack. It wasn't a car bombing," the official said.

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Further Update 9:45 am:

Once one of the success stories of Iraq, Mosul fell into violence last month when the U.S. military launched an assault on Fallujah.

Newswatch 50 UPI article

Making the world safer.

I expect that Mosul is about to see some serious air action.

Update 10:30 am:

DUBAI, Dec 21 (AFP) - The Al-Qaeda linked Army of Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for an attack on a US military base Tuesday in the Iraqi city of Mosul that reportedly killed about 22 people, in a statement attributed to the group on an Islamist website.

"One of the mujahedeen of the Army of Ansar al-Sunna carried out a martyrdom-seeking (suicide) operation in a restaurant of the infidel occupation forces at the Ghazlani camp in Mosul at 12:00 pm (0900 GMT) Tuesday," said the statement, whose authenticity could not be independently confirmed.

"Two air ambulances were seen moving bodies and wounded people. This heroic operation was filmed and (the video) will be released at a later date," it said.

"We will let you know the losses of the infidel enemy," the statement added, blasting the "American crusaders."

Turkish Press article

Photo: Dean Hoffmeyer/Richmond Times-Dispatch

Caption: The mess tent that was hit was filled with U.S. soldiers.

Update 6:30 pm: Radio interview with embedded reporter who witnessed the attack is here at the Richmond Times Dispatch website - photos.