Articles 3.25.2005

Updated 16:00 cst
An AP article reports that it was a white sedan that exploded at a Ramadi checkpoint yesterday evening. "The Islamic Army in Iraq posted a statement on the Ansar Web site claiming responsibility." The article also indicates that "Another car bomb exploded Friday in the city's center. It targeted a U.S.-Iraqi convoy, but only killed the two attackers in the car."
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Updated 12:00 cst
A Multi-National Force Iraq news release has a few more details on the 3.24.2005 suicide attack. The attack occured at 7 p.m. local time at an "entry control point" in Ramadi. The release claims 6 members of an Iraqi Special Police Commando unit were killed and 19 were wounded. Two U.S. soldiers and two civilians were also wounded. All other reports coming in still claim 11 Iraqi police commandos were killed and 14 wounded. All reports are consistent in that two U.S. soldiers were wounded. The release says entry control points were set up on 2.20.2005 in Ramadi (the date Operation River Blitz was launched) "at the request of the Iraqi government," and the control points are manned by both Iraqi and U.S. forces.
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Posted 08:00 cst
The Pajaro Valley Register-Pajoronian, CA has an article with more details on legal issues involved with the burial location dispute for Staff Sgt. Jason Hendrix, of the 1-9th. The judges ruling indicates that SSG Hendrix will be buried in Oklahoma. The article gives no indication on the date of funeral services.
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The Associated Press, Reuters and NY Times (reg req'd) report that a suicide car bomber exploded at a checkpoint in eastern Ramadi, killing 9 Iraqi police commandos and 5 interpreters, and wounding 14 others, including 3 Iraqi civilians, 9 police commandos, and two U.S. soldiers. No further details are available.
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A Marine Corps News release indicates that "Coalition Forces from the 2d Marine Division have detained a total of 147 suspected insurgents since taking the reins from 1st Marine Division on March 17." "One Army Brigade Combat Team" (the 2nd BCT) is mentioned as part of the coalition forces. The 2nd Marine Division chief operations officer, Col. Bob Chase, said that "Our main effort since our arrival in Al Anbar is to accelerate the training and partnering of the emerging Iraqi Security Forces."
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A separate Marine Corps news release discusses the tip line set up for Iraqi citizens to provide information on insurgent activity. One quote: "The tip line, which was slow to catch on, is gaining popularity with the citizens of Ramadi. The tip line now receives more that 37 calls a week, leading to the detention of insurgents, criminals and terrorists, locations of improvised explosive devices and seizures of weapons caches."
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A Department of Defense news story reports that "a coordinated car-bomb attack involving three vehicles heading for the Mussayib police station in Ramadi was derailed March 21" after local citizens provided information. The first two cars were acting as a diversion for the 3rd, explosive laden car. All three drivers were foreign nationals (one Palestinian, one Syrian, and one Egyptian). Local citizens also helped prevent the escape of one of the drivers, and all three drivers were arrested by Iraqi security forces.
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The Martha's Vineyard Times has an article on a Marine who recently returned home from Ramadi. Sgt. Robert Dickson worked with a civil affairs unit alongside an infantry company in Ramadi. He describes his impressions on the situation in Iraq.
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The BBC has an update article on the British citizen detained by 2/5 Marines in Ramadi in December. Mobeen Muneef was arrested on suspicion of working with insurgents after he was seen handing weapons over a wall and traces of gunpowder were found on his hands. He met with a British consul official in Iraq. His family, who claim he was on a humanitarian mission, is working with British officials to try and get him transferred to British custody. The article gives no indication of progress towards that end.
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Other articles from the region:
- LA Times (reg req'd): Iraqi Power Workers Decry Attacks