thedrifter
11-26-08, 07:21 AM
U.S. Marine, member of advisory team killed in attack on patrol
New York Times News Service
Published: November 26, 2008
BAGHDAD — Two Iraqis, one of whom appeared to be wearing an Iraqi army uniform, opened fire on U.S. service members on Tuesday morning, killing a Marine and a member of a U.S. military advisory team that works with the Iraqi army, and wounding two other Marines and three civilians, the U.S. military said in a statement.
The attack happened in Baaj, an economically depressed district near the Syrian border that has remained a haven for Sunni insurgents who retreat there after staging attacks in nearby cities like Mosul and Tal Afar.
Recently, U.S. troops have been trying to jump-start the area's economy. The U.S. patrol that was attacked was on a humanitarian mission, the military said.
"The attack appears to have been unprovoked," said Col. Bill Buckner, a U.S. military spokesman. "It is unknown if the attacker was an Iraqi soldier or an insurgent in disguise."
U.S. and Iraqi officials are investigating the attack. Two weeks ago, an Iraqi soldier killed two U.S. soldiers in Mosul and wounded six others before being killed himself at an Iraqi-staffed combat outpost.
Ellie
New York Times News Service
Published: November 26, 2008
BAGHDAD — Two Iraqis, one of whom appeared to be wearing an Iraqi army uniform, opened fire on U.S. service members on Tuesday morning, killing a Marine and a member of a U.S. military advisory team that works with the Iraqi army, and wounding two other Marines and three civilians, the U.S. military said in a statement.
The attack happened in Baaj, an economically depressed district near the Syrian border that has remained a haven for Sunni insurgents who retreat there after staging attacks in nearby cities like Mosul and Tal Afar.
Recently, U.S. troops have been trying to jump-start the area's economy. The U.S. patrol that was attacked was on a humanitarian mission, the military said.
"The attack appears to have been unprovoked," said Col. Bill Buckner, a U.S. military spokesman. "It is unknown if the attacker was an Iraqi soldier or an insurgent in disguise."
U.S. and Iraqi officials are investigating the attack. Two weeks ago, an Iraqi soldier killed two U.S. soldiers in Mosul and wounded six others before being killed himself at an Iraqi-staffed combat outpost.
Ellie