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NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

April 29, 2003
Release Number: 03-04-206


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION REPORTS INCIDENTS AGAINST FRIENDLY FORCES

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- Coalition efforts to defeat regime pockets of resistance in Iraq are proving successful, but incidents directed against Coalition forces are evidence that despite the significant decrease in active military operations, dangers are still evident.

Apr. 28 hostile fire incidents:

V Corps soldiers came under fire north of Baghdad while they were inspecting a building at about 1 a.m. where suspected enemy resistance forces were located. The soldiers engaged hostile forces, resulting in one enemy KIA and one wounded. Coalition forces sustained no casualties.

In a second incident, V Corps soldiers were engaged in a short firefight with enemy forces at about 3 a.m. while clearing a government building in Baghdad. U.S. soldiers successfully cleared the building, detained eight Iraqis, and confiscated two AK-47 assault rifles. Coalition forces sustained no casualties.

In a separate incident, U.S. Marines conducting vehicle searches in Al Kut shot and killed an Iraqi after he attempted to hit Marines with his vehicle at approximately 4:30 a.m. While Marines were conducting a search of one vehicle, another vehicle, reported to be a taxi, attempted to strike a Marine. That Marine was able to avoid being struck, but when the driver attempted to strike a second Marine with his vehicle, he was shot. An investigation is underway.

Apr. 27 hostile fire incidents:

At about 9 p.m. an unknown number of individuals in two vehicles fired small arms at the gate of a Coalition Logistics Support Area in northern Iraq. A guard force of U.S. soldiers reacted, destroyed one technical vehicle and captured three individuals. Coalition forces sustained no casualties.

Additionally, a U.S. Army rifle company providing security for the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance Headquarters in Baghdad received small arms fire at about 7:30 p.m. from an unknown source. Coalition forces sustained no injuries.

In a third incident, a U.S. V Corps unit received mortar fire at about 4:30 p.m. near Tikrit. Coalition forces were able to determine the origin point for the mortar fire, where they found a base plate for a mortar and observed the escape of several paramilitary forces.

Finally, an individual firing a small arm ambushed a group of U.S. Army Civil Affairs soldiers on a public health-related mission at approximately 10 a.m. in downtown Baghdad. Four soldiers were injured, one seriously.