Iraqi Army and U.S. Special Forces Patrol Attacked

The government reports 13 criminal fighters killed.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Derand Javier and Chris Moore, both weapons specialists with 64th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, test the head spacing of a .50-caliber machine gun on an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter on Balad Air Base, Iraq. Head spacing determines the timing at which rounds flow through the machine gun. DoD photo by Senior Airman Julianne Showalter, U.S. Air Force.

(BAGHDAD, Iraq) - A patrol Iraqi Army Scouts and U.S. Special Forces Soldiers was attacked by criminal elements in southeastern Suwayrah, March 29th. Iraqi and U.S. Forces repelled the attack, killing 13 enemy fighters.

Iraqi and U.S. Forces conducted a presence patrol in Suwayrah. During the patrol, an Iraqi woman reportedly approached the patrol and told them a criminal member lived in a nearby house.

Iraqi and U.S. Forces searched the house, finding 9 rocket propelled grenades and criminal propaganda.

Shortly after continuing their patrol, a U.S. Special Forces Soldier identified 6 armed individuals exiting a cargo truck, posturing to attack the patrol with RPGs. The U.S. SF Soldier immediately engaged the individuals as Iraqi and U.S. vehicles maneuvered to gain a tactical advantage. At this time, the patrol began to receive small arms and RPG fire from another location. Iraqi and U.S. Forces continued to maneuver and after a short firefight, neutralized the enemy threat.

Shortly after continuing their patrol, Iraqi and U.S. Forces were again attacked by hostile forces with small arms and RPG fire. The patrol engaged and neutralized the threat.

They say that around 45 minutes later, the patrol received small-arms fire and observed an individual armed with an RPG positioning to attack the patrol. Iraqi and U.S. Forces fired to suppress enemy small arms-fire and the individual with the RPG.

In addition to the 13 enemy fighters killed, 2 cargo trucks were destroyed.