British troops break up tribal feud in Basrah [12/17, late CJTF7 report]

CJTF7 ^ | Dec. 24, 2003

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

CJTF-7 Public Affairs

BAGHDAD, Iraq      

Release #031224b

 

                  British troops break up tribal feud in Basrah

BASRAH, Iraq – Soldiers from the 1st Battalion Light Infantry (LI) in Basrah broke up a major tribal feud after two days of violence Dec. 17. The fighting between the Al Abtut and Al Hamadne tribes ended after a one-hour gun battle that left at least ten people wounded.

The dispute began in the Al Hartha area after a disagreement over a compact disc recording in the local market. It quickly spiraled into violence, and within hours groups of armed men were on the streets.

British troops moved in to keep the tribes separated. One Iraqi man was shot dead after he aimed a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher at one of their vehicles.
 

Maj. Karl Hickman, commander of D Company 1LI, said a truce, which had been hastily brokered, broke down a few days later. “One of the WARRIOR crews on patrol spotted a large group of armed men and another firefight began,” he said. “We deployed to the area to try and identify the troublemakers without becoming embroiled in the firefight itself.” The British troops were fired upon on several occasions with small arms and RPGs. One rocket hit Maj Hickman’s WARRIOR but bounced off and caused no damage.

“There was a bright flash, and that was it,” he said. As the firefight continued, two Challenger 2 tanks from D Squadron The Queen’s Royal Hussars were deployed to assist. Showing great discipline, the troops encircled the battle and began firing warning shots to encourage the tribes to disperse. As the fighters scrambled away, they were followed by the Challengers’ thermal sights, which enable the houses they were hiding in to be identified. A search operation was mounted and 25 men were arrested, many of whom were heavily armed.

Four heavy machine guns, ten AK47s, an RPG launcher and a considerable amount of ammunition were recovered, including 25 RPG rounds. The captured tribesmen were handed over to Iraqi Police.

“The fighting was so intense that a large number of innocent people could have been shot and killed,” Maj Hickman said. “This kind of fighting has restricted the amount of reconstruction work we have been able to do in this area. “I’m quite certain that it would have been a lot worse if we hadn’t been there.”

Lt. Col. Andrew Cuthbert, commanding officer of The Queen’s Royal Hussars Battlegroup, called a meeting with the sheiks of the tribes involved and brokered a 10-day ceasefire to allow them to come to a peace agreement.

“These two tribes have been feuding with each other for the last 40 years,” Maj. Hickman added. “But we have left the sheiks in no doubt that any further violence will be severely punished and that the blame will be laid firmly at their doors.”

[TalBlack]

I'm about to respond to the headline with something like: Stopping tribes who will war doesn't accomplish anything but putting off the war. Peace comes only thru war. Why should the British risk....etc....etc...

But I read the text first and discover that it's over a CD playing in a market. My instant reaction is that the Brits were right to stop bloodshed over so small a thing but as I finish this sentance I find I am back at square one which is: If they will spill blood over SO SLIGHT a thing then the hell with it; let them slaughter one another.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

BASRAH, Iraq – Soldiers from the 1st Battalion Light Infantry (LI) in Basrah broke up a major tribal feud after two days of violence Dec. 17. The fighting between the Al Abtut and Al Hamadne tribes ended after a one-hour gun battle that left at least ten people wounded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One hour gun battle left (only) 10 wounded. 10 day brokered truce ends on Dec. 27. Maj. Hickman sternly scolds tribes who have been feuding for 40 years....

Truce brokered, no UK troops killed ~ good job, troops!

My apologies to our Brit allies who are in the middle of an 'Iraq family feud' in S. Iraq, for making light of the tone of this report.

[blackie]

British troops break up tribal feud in Basrah ~ Bump!

[windchime]

Bump!

[radu]

Good grief! All the Coalition troops have enough on their plate without having to deal with things like this!

It's great to know none of the British troops were killed.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!