An explosion at a U.S. military base in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul caused "multiple casualties," the U.S. military said in an e-mailed statement.
The cause of the blast, which took place at noon local time, is under investigation, according to the statement, which didn't specify how many people have been killed or wounded.
Bloomberg articleThe cause of the blast, which took place at noon local time, is under investigation, according to the statement, which didn't specify how many people have been killed or wounded.
Mr. Blair is visiting Baghdad.
Update 9:30 am: 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.
articleFurther Update 9:45 am:
Mosul was relatively peaceful in the immediate aftermath of the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime last year. But insurgent attacks have increased dramatically in the past year and particularly since the U.S.-led military operation in November to retake the restive city of Fallujah from guerrillas.
ABC articleMaking the world safer.
I need to find out whether the base attack came before the Hiyt airstrikes. My guess would be yes, since we are fond of collective punishment against people who are not responsible for attacking first. But, I also 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"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."
Photo: Dean Hoffmeyer/Richmond Times-Dispatch
Caption: The mess tent that was hit was filled with U.S. soldiers.
No comments:
Post a Comment