An Iraqi puts up posters with a fatwa, or religious ruling, issued by Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, which encourages people to vote in Iraq's upcoming elections in Baghdad Sunday Nov. 28, 2004. (AP Photo/Samir Mizban)
Posted on 11/29/2004 8:33:56 PM PST by Former Military Chick
The Iraqi national guard raided the Sunni Muslim Al Yassen Mosque in southern Baghdad and found seven cars rigged with explosives. A car bomb in Samarra, north of the capital, killed six people.
BAGHDAD - A mosque raided by security forces in southern Baghdad contained a workshop to rig suicide car bombs, with seven vehicles ready for terror attacks, an Iraqi Defense Ministry official said Sunday.
Car bombings and remote-controlled roadside blasts have become routine in the Iraqi capital in recent weeks, including a blast Sunday that wounded two U.S. soldiers.
Meanwhile, Iraq's most feared terror group, led by Abu Musab al Zarqawi, claimed responsibility Sunday for slaughtering members of the Iraqi security forces in Mosul, where dozens of bodies have been found, The Associated Press reported. The claim raises fears the terror group has expanded to the north after the loss of its purported base in Fallujah.
National guard forces raided the Sunni Muslim Al Yassen Mosque in the southern Baghdad area of Abu Dshir on Saturday, said Gen. Saleh Sarhan of the Defense Ministry. In addition to seven cars rigged with explosives, the guardsmen found 30 rocket-propelled grenades, high-powered rifles, mortars and remote control detonators, Sarhan said.
''The national guard arrested the imam of the mosque,'' Sarhan said, and detained an additional 18 people suspected of involvement in the car bombings.
Anti-U.S. insurgents used 60 mosques in the city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, to stockpile weapons and provide cover during a U.S.-led offensive against the city earlier this month, the U.S. military says. One of the mosques was described as a general arms depot capable of equipping insurgents across much of Iraq.
Both Sunni and Shiite Muslim clerics are deeply opposed to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, and many Sunni clerics also reject elections scheduled for Jan. 30.
In Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, a car bomb killed six people.
Another car bomb exploded on a perilous road leading to Baghdad's airport, wounding two U.S. soldiers and damaging a military vehicle, a military statement said. There were no civilian casualties.
Elsewhere, insurgents lobbed mortars near a police station in Baqouba, a city 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, police said. Two officers and a woman were injured.
Iraqi and U.S. forces around the northern city of Mosul arrested 43 suspected rebels, a U.S. military spokesman said. As U.S.-led forces attacked Fallujah earlier this month, insurgents in Mosul rose up in a bloody campaign against civilians. Security forces found 17 bodies around the city on Friday, and 15 on Thursday, Army Lt. Col. Paul Hastings said.
A statement posted on an Islamist website in the name of al Qaeda in Iraq, led by Zarqawi, claimed responsibility for killing 17 members of Iraq's security forces and a Kurdish militiaman in Mosul, The AP reported.
The claim could not be independently verified but the style of writing appeared similar to other statements by Zarqawi's group, which is responsible for numerous car bombings and beheadings of foreign hostages in Iraq. The United States has offered a $25 million reward for Zarqawi's capture -- the same amount it is offering for Osama bin Laden.
At least 50 people have been killed in Mosul in the past 10 days.
Most of the victims are believed to have been supporters of Iraq's interim government or members of its fledgling security forces.
Among those arrested in recent days are a number of Islamic jihadists, or fighters, from outside of Iraq.
Sarhan said police over the weekend captured a Saudi citizen, Faisal Ganem, carrying two grenades and a map of Fallujah.
Last week, Basra police arrested two Saudis, two Tunisians, a Sudanese and a Libyan who allegedly arrived in the city from Fallujah to carry out a bombing campaign.
Knight Ridder correspondent Tim Johnson contributed to this report.
An Iraqi puts up posters with a fatwa, or religious ruling, issued by Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, which encourages people to vote in Iraq's upcoming elections in Baghdad Sunday Nov. 28, 2004. (AP Photo/Samir Mizban)
Two arrested petrol black marketeers sit in the back of an Iraqi National Guard pick up truck in Baghdad Monday Nov. 29, 2004. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Iraqi National Guard members arrest a petrol black marketeer in Baghdad Monday Nov. 29, 2004. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
U.S. troops secure part of a highway in western Baghdad, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004 after a car bomb exploded next to U.S. military convoy wounding five soldiers, according to the military. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Iraqi National Guard members arrests petrol black marketeers in Baghdad Monday Nov. 29, 2004. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Iraqi women walk past a U.S. military Bradley armored vehicle on their way to buy petrol in Baghdad's predominantly Shiite, Sadr City Monday Nov. 29, 2004 (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
A pedestrian makes his way through a muddy street in Baghdad's predominantly Shiite's Sadr City Friday Nov. 26 2004. Followers of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are reviving the movement's stronghold in Sadr City, reaching out to the district's 2 million mainly Shiite residents with relief work, protection, and spiritual counseling. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
American Marines and Iraqi Special Forces backed by the Britain's Queens Dragoon Guards, as they launch a river boat raid on a suspect insurgent area, Sunday Nov. 28, 2004, on the Euphrates river south of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo/ Michael Dunlea, Pool)
Cpl Kevin Manson from Edinburgh on watch on the bank of the Euphrates river, as American Marines and Iraqi Special Forces backed by the Queen's Dragoon Guards launch a river boat raid on a suspect insurgent area, south of Baghdad, Sunday Nov. 28, 2004. British soldiers took part in the river assault on a rebel insurgent stronghold. (AP photo / Michael Dunlea, pool)
Iraqi Red Crescent worker looks at deserted and devastated street in Fallujah, Iraq, Friday Nov. 26 2004. U.S. and Iraqi forces continue to fight sporadic gunbattles with rebel holdouts as they clear Fallujah of weapons. But as the battle calms, U.S. forces are reflecting on the fight, their often-unseen foes and the future of a city which lies in ruins. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
US soldiers stand next to military armored bus that was damaged by a roadside bomb on the highway near Baghdad International Airport Saturday Nov. 27, 2004. There was no information about possible casualties. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
US soldiers secure the area after a road side bomb damaged an military supply truck in Baghdad Saturday Nov. 27, 2004. There is no immediate report on casualties. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
U.S. troops search through rubble of an Humvee destroyed in a rocket attack which killed several soldiers in Baghdad's Adamiya district Saturday Nov. 20, 2004. (AP Photo/Muhammed Uraibi)
In this image taken from pool video provided to the Associated Press by NBC News, a U.S. marine is seen, left, raising his rifle in the direction of wounded Iraqi men lying on the floor of a mosque in Fallujah, Iraq Saturday Nov. 13, 2004. (AP Photo/NBC News)
US soldiers secure the area after a road side bomb damaged an military supply truck in Baghdad, Saturday Nov. 27, 2004. There is no immediate report on casualties. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
US soldiers secure the area after a road side bomb damaged an military supply truck in Baghdad, Saturday Nov. 27, 2004. There is no immediate report on casualties. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment soldiers lead Iraqi men suspected of insurgent involvement from the scene of a joint raid by Iraqi National Guard and U.S. forces near a mosque in central Mosul, Iraq Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004. The Army took in 29 detainees over 36 hours on Friday and Saturday in Mosul, including eight from this raid. Insurgents rose up this month in Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, during an offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Fallujah. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
An Iraqi national soldier, right, and an American soldier communicate with the help of a translation card at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Mosul,Iraq Thursday, Nov. 19, 2004. Iraqi commandos backed by U.S. forces raided a hospital in northern Mosul allegedly used by insurgents, detaining three people overnight, as Iraqi forces elsewhere in the city fought off militants, killing 15 and capturing 10 others, Iraqi officials and U.S. military said Friday.(AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
A U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment soldier leads Iraqi men suspected of insurgent involvement from the scene of a joint raid by Iraqi National Guard and U.S. forces near a mosque in central Mosul, Iraq Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004. The Army took in 29 detainees over 36 hours on Friday and Saturday, including eight from this raid. Insurgents rose up this month in Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, during an offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Fallujah. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment soldiers secure the scene during a joint raid by Iraqi National Guard and U.S. forces near a mosque in central Mosul, Iraq, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004. The Army took in 29 detainees over 36 hours on Friday and Saturday in Mosul, including eight from this raid. Insurgents rose up this month in Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, during an offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Fallujah. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment soldiers lead Iraqi men suspected of insurgent involvement from the scene of a joint raid by Iraqi National Guard and U.S. forces near a mosque in central Mosul, Iraq, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004. The Army took in 29 detainees over 36 hours on Friday and Saturday in Mosul, including eight from this raid. Insurgents rose up this month in Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, during an offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Fallujah. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
Others wait behind as an Iraqi National Guard soldier questions a man with a child before allowing them to leave the scene of a joint raid by Iraqi National Guard and U.S. forces near a mosque in central Mosul, Iraq, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004. The Army took in 29 detainees over 36 hours on Friday and Saturday in Mosul, including eight from this raid. Insurgents rose up this month in Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, during an offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Fallujah. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
Iraqi women walk past U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment and Iraqi National Guard soldiers during a joint raid near a mosque in central Mosul, Iraq Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004. The Army took in 29 detainees over 36 hours on Friday and Saturday in Mosul, including eight from this raid. Insurgents rose up this month in Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, during an offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Fallujah. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
Iraqi and US soldiers stand by weapons and explosives found during a raid on a mosque in Baghdad's al-Dora district Saturday Nov. 27, 2004. (AP Photo/Muhammed Uraibi)
A group of Iraqis arrested in a raid on a mosque in Baghdad's al-Dora district stand in front weapons and explosives found by Iraqi and US forces Saturday Nov. 27, 2004. (AP Photo/Muhammed Uraibi)
U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry soldiers patrol on the outskirts of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004. Ten bodies were recovered Sunday in Mosul, where at least 50 people have been murdered in the past 10 days. Most of the victims are believed to have been supporters of Iraq's interim government or members of its fledgeling security forces. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry soldiers patrol in Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004. Ten bodies were recovered Sunday in Mosul, where at least 50 people have been murdered in the past 10 days. Most of the victims are believed to have been supporters of Iraq's interim government or members of its fledgeling security forces. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
Iraqi National Guard soldiers remove a body as U.S. Army troops secure the perimeter after four murdered men were found in a cemetery in Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004. Ten bodies were recovered Sunday in Mosul, where at least 50 people have been murdered in the past 10 days. Most of the victims are believed to have been supporters of Iraq's interim government or members of its fledgeling security forces.(AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
A U.S. Army soldier checks for possible booby-traps and explosives after the bodies of four murdered men were found in a cemetery in Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004. Ten bodies were recovered Sunday in Mosul, where at least 50 people have been murdered in the past 10 days. Most of the victims are believed to have been supporters of Iraq's interim government or members of its fledgeling security forces.(AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
U.S. Army and Iraqi National Guard soldiers remove a body found near a cemetery in Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004. Ten bodies were recovered Sunday in Mosul, where at least 50 people have been murdered in the past 10 days. Most of the victims are believed to have been supporters of Iraq's interim government or members of its fledgling security forces. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)
A U.S. Marine leads away a captured Iraqi man in the center of Fallujah, Iraq, in this Nov. 12, 2004 file photo. U.S. Marines fighting their way through Iraq's rebel-infested Fallujah are seeking fighters and guns in the battle against Sunni Muslim insurgents and gunmen who receive cash bounties for killing their victims. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
Have to tell you, as I looked at the photo's, some were a bit disturbing, but, in reality this is what our troops have to deal with everyday, and what they see, well this will be with them for the rest of their lives.
You see folks with all the ammo, hell, I am surprised there haven't been more deaths, high five to our military for doing such a good job.
I also saw the one where they are checking to booby traps, frankly, if anyone can tell me that what our troops do in the heat of war is wrong, send 'em my way, we will settle this outside. :)
You see the Iraqi's smiling in several photo's, so I know we are doing the right thing!
Hope you enjoyed them as well.
BTTT
These photos are great. The MSM is too busy showing Maureen Dowd whining... we never see what our troops are actually DOING.
photo's ping
Screw Maureen Dowd !
ping
Aragorn, son of Arathorn, instructs two hobbits in proper frisking technique.
Sorry. Loved the pics, but I just couldn't resist that one.
The guy in the civies is a sharp dresser. The Iraqi James Bond?
As a general thing.
Way to go US Military....we support our troops. ;o)
Thanks for the post.
Great catch, Military Chick! It appears to me that about 99.99% of arms are tucked inside mosques - where we can't get at them - unless we send in Iraqis to do it.
Too bad we can't just level all of them.
What a horrid thought! Ms. Dowd offers no temptations toward the sin of adultery whatever.
BTTT!
Soldier on the right: I guess I recognise the hi-price milspec "aimpoint" in the middle of the the top rail, but what's the device further down on the right side towards the muzzle (above the light)? Video? The Israeli shoot-around-the corner thingie?
TIA - Yehuda
PS - WHERE'S ARCHY?
I guess it doesn't really look so bad...Considering that the US Marines just paid it a hostile visit. :)
Looks to be an M3 Tac Light next to a AN-PEQ laser.....Look at the crook of the second soldier to see the light a bit better from different angle. A good albeit a fake unit for airsoft at the link below.....
http://members.shaw.ca/planetairsoft/Pictures/review-icsanpeq2/realanpeq2.gif
Thank you!
Yeah, what IS that thing?
You are most welcome. Happy holidays, my friend.
Good pics, thanks.
I am glad you enjoyed them. Feel free to forward them to family and friends!
Thanks!
"Yeah, what IS that thing?"
The bracket for holding their night vision gear?
The bracket for holding their night vision gear?
Exactly
Wow! I'll say it again ... EVERY mosque in EVERY country in the world should be searched and monitored.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
