wrbones
03-28-03, 09:13 AM
http://www.msnbc.com/news/888496.asp?0cv=CB10
31 Marines injured in ‘friendly fire’
A U.S. Marine from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Division, looks Thursday at armored vehicles destroyed overnight by "friendly fire" near An Nasiriyah, Iraq.
March 27 -- NBC's Kerry Sanders reports from the scene of a "friendly fire" accident in Iraq that left 31 Marines wounded.
NBC NEWS AND NEWS SERVICES
AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq, March 27 — U.S. Marines mistakenly fired on one of their own units in southern Iraq, wounding 31 Marines, two of them critically, NBC’s Kerry Sanders reported from the scene Thursday.
THE ACCIDENT took place Wednesday night as the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, called for support when it came under fire. A second Marine unit started firing from a distance, but some of their shells fell on the 2nd Battalion position, reported Sanders, who is traveling with the 2nd Battalion.
The battle and “friendly fire” lasted about 90 minutes, Sanders said. “It was a very, very difficult night,” he added, but Marines were saying they were lucky no Americans were killed. Four Marine trucks were destroyed.
An earlier report said 37 Marines had been wounded, three critically.
Sanders said it was still not clear what led to the communications problem between the two Marine units.
The incident added to the mounting reports of casualties as coalition forces make their way north through Iraq. Coalition forces have met stiff resistance from Iraqi forces, including paramilitary groups, in the south, where they have faced a pattern of deadly ambushes and ruse attacks by Iraqi militiamen in civilian clothes.
U.S. officials have said nine Marines were killed Sunday near An Nasiriyah when an Iraqi unit indicated that it was giving up and then opened fire as the Marines approached. U.S. military sources said about 40 others were wounded. The Marines were stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
31 Marines injured in ‘friendly fire’
A U.S. Marine from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Division, looks Thursday at armored vehicles destroyed overnight by "friendly fire" near An Nasiriyah, Iraq.
March 27 -- NBC's Kerry Sanders reports from the scene of a "friendly fire" accident in Iraq that left 31 Marines wounded.
NBC NEWS AND NEWS SERVICES
AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq, March 27 — U.S. Marines mistakenly fired on one of their own units in southern Iraq, wounding 31 Marines, two of them critically, NBC’s Kerry Sanders reported from the scene Thursday.
THE ACCIDENT took place Wednesday night as the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, called for support when it came under fire. A second Marine unit started firing from a distance, but some of their shells fell on the 2nd Battalion position, reported Sanders, who is traveling with the 2nd Battalion.
The battle and “friendly fire” lasted about 90 minutes, Sanders said. “It was a very, very difficult night,” he added, but Marines were saying they were lucky no Americans were killed. Four Marine trucks were destroyed.
An earlier report said 37 Marines had been wounded, three critically.
Sanders said it was still not clear what led to the communications problem between the two Marine units.
The incident added to the mounting reports of casualties as coalition forces make their way north through Iraq. Coalition forces have met stiff resistance from Iraqi forces, including paramilitary groups, in the south, where they have faced a pattern of deadly ambushes and ruse attacks by Iraqi militiamen in civilian clothes.
U.S. officials have said nine Marines were killed Sunday near An Nasiriyah when an Iraqi unit indicated that it was giving up and then opened fire as the Marines approached. U.S. military sources said about 40 others were wounded. The Marines were stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.