IRAQ-CONFLICT: US troops attack Fedayeen in Najaf

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

NAJAF, Apr 2 2003 (IPS) - US troops backed by planes and helicopters attacked Fedayeen militia in the central city of Najafon Wednesday where they faced an unexpectedly stiff resistance.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Holden of 101st Airborne said the city was a centre of Fedayeen resistance and vowed to destroy them.

"The target is to destroy Fedayeen units and anyone else trying to disrupt our lines of communication," he said. "We are going to destroy them."

Officials said the assault would also involve Apache attack helicopters, and that suspected Fedayeen positions were hit with 30mm depleted uranium rounds – "tank killer" weapons that are capable of blasting through walls.