Post Latest Iraq War News Here - Part II

[The Andy-Man]

the US have supposedly found a chem plant near najaf, according to sky. They apprasntly have a general under interrogation aswell.


I am skeptical myself, it could turn out to be a fertiliser plant or something. Does anyone have good confirmation on this?

[Alexander's Horse]

Some good reporting coming in, this from Reuters:

In the desert near the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf, just 160 km south of Baghdad, correspondent Luke Baker travelled through a plain littered with Iraqi bodies and gutted vehicles after US forces fought a seven-hour battle against militiamen desperately trying to halt their advance.

Some vehicles were still smouldering, and charred ribs were the only recognisable part of three melted bodies in a destroyed car lying in the roadside dust.

"It wasn't even a fair fight. I don't know why they don't just surrender," said Colonel Mark Hildenbrand, commander of the 937th Engineer Group. "When you're playing soccer at home, 3-2 is a fair score, but here it's more like 119-0."

US troops showed reporters a hideout said to have been used by an Iraqi militiaman. The soldier who had used the hideout had only a filthy blanket to protect him from the cold desert nights, and just a plastic bag of raw meat for food.

When he fled, he left behind a picture of his two children.

[Lincoln]

Originally posted by The Andy-Man
the US have supposedly found a chem plant near najaf, according to sky. They apprasntly have a general under interrogation aswell.


I am skeptical myself, it could turn out to be a fertiliser plant or something. Does anyone have good confirmation on this?

The Jerusalem Post has the story as does Fox News.

[Edan]

Here's an article by AP:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2504231,00.html

U.S. troops have found a suspected chemical factory in Iraq and officials were trying to determine late Sunday whether it was involved in making chemical weapons, U.S. officials said.

Of course, the important word at this point is suspected - time will tell.

[Ming]

I see another warning is needed.

NO COMMENTARY... NO OPINIONS... JUST THE FACTS, and include a source or link.

There are MANY other threads where you can state your opinions.

[CrONoS]

President Saddam Hussein to deliver an "important and historic" speech shortly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

[GRU]

Numerous Russian sources referring to coalition military:

2 British soldiers considered missed in south of Iraq after their vehicle has been attacked.
Chemical facility reportedly been captured by coalition is in fact a conventional factory. It has been visited by IAEA experts for many times before attack.

Iranian news agency IRNA:

Reportedly, another colaition plane is downed over Baghdad.

[GRU]

A chopper crashed in Afghanistan was in fact HH-60 Pave Hawk. Six personnel were aboard, no survivors.

The most credible source about military accidents in Afghanistan is the CENTCOM site. The proper release is available here:

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20030353.txt

People the US operation in Afghanistan is not related to Iraqi war. Please do not spam the thread posting any news about US/UK military accidents around the globe. They have many but it is not Saddam who is responsible.

[CrONoS]

Syrian Autobus blasted by U.S. Missile near the border of Iraq.
Sand storm in Iraq. Coalition force slowed
============================================

https://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles

=========================
Heard on television.
Radio canada are the first and biggest media in Canada.
State Financed media.

[Hurricane]

From bbc news:

At 0800 GMT (1100 local time), Saddam Hussein appeared on Iraqi television to proclaim that Iraqi forces were inflicting losses on the US and UK forces

"Victory will be our soon," he said. "Iraqis will strike the necks as God has commanded you.

"Strike them and strike evil so that evil will be defeated."

It was not clear if the speech was live or had been recorded but it was believed to be the Iraqi president himself.

[CrONoS]

Sandstorms seen hitting US in Iraq in coming days
Sandstorms are likely to affect U.S.-British military operations in Iraq in the coming days, the captain of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln said on Monday.
=====

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24589057

[CrONoS]

US MISSILE KILLS FIVE SYRIANS: REPORT


A US missile has hit a bus in Iraq, killing five Syrians who were returning home, according to the Sana news agency.

More to follow...

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1084869,00.html

[Hurricane]

From IRNA:

USWAR/Umm Qasr is reportedly calm

Tehran, March 24, IRNA -- Southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr is
reportedly calmer than the previous day, according to Qatari TV
Al-Jazeera.
The TV reported that five round of clashes broke out in Umm Qasr
port during last night.
The US forces could not enter the port yet, it said.
Al-Jazeera correspondent quoted a US officer as narrating Iraqi
forces' ambush operations. He said all started with a gesture of peace
white flag waiving by a convoy of 120 Iraqis as a sign of readiness
for surrender to the US forces.
He added that as the US forces approached the Iraqi troops, they
faced massive shelling from nearby buildings and array of vehicles the
Iraqis were aboard.
He said that news censorship is imposed in al-Faw and noted that
British forces are responsible for the peninsula's occupation.
SF/HM
End

[Asher]

Apache Longbow (AH-64D) helicopter found 50 miles south of Baghdad, landed in a grass field, surrounded by Iraqis cheering.

I can't see ANY signs of battle damage (Iraqi TV is airing remarkably detailed and closeup pictures), and there's no sign of the crew, except for two helmets found.

[Asher]

Iraq is now claiming it shot down two Apaches, and will show pictures of their pilots "when it's convenient".