Page 223 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II
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Tall ‘Afar. 22
On 3 May, G Troop began searching for IEDs in Sarai. Insurgents observed the troop’s
entry and immediately attacked it with small arms and hand grenades. During the fight,
which lasted over 4 hours, the troopers observed women and children being used as shields
and children acting as scouts. In the fight, insurgents wounded six Iraqi soldiers. Returning
fire and forcing the insurgents to withdraw, the Soldiers secured the area and eventually
retired, but they would return 2 days later searching for weapons purportedly stored in a
mosque. As Iraqi infantry approached the mosque, insurgents opened fire and inflicted two
casualties, which shook the Iraqis’ confidence, forcing G Troop’s Soldiers to take control
of the situation. Stiffened by the American presence, the Iraqis regained their composure
and continued fighting as AH64Ds from 4th Squadron supported the attack, which killed 12
insurgents in over 3 hours of combat. 23
As the squadron continued COLD FUSION, a suicide bomber attacked an E Troop Bradley
22 ibid., 7.
23 ibid., 10.
