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Ulster troops in attack on Basra national |
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news report
 Wednesday March 26, 2003 13:31 by Royal Irish
 time for a sneak attack on NI from ROI? Ulster troops in attack on Basra By Ben Lowry SOLDIERS from Northern Ireland are reported today to be involved in the key battle to seize Basra. British forces have been waging fierce battles with more than 1,000 Iraqi militia fighters around the southern city, supporting what some reports said was the beginning of a popular uprising against Saddam Hussein. The Irish Guards, including more than 100 soldiers from Northern Ireland, are involved in the battle as part of 7 Armoured Brigade, which is positioned to the west of Iraq's second city. A British military spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph this morning that the brigade is "taking opportune targets where appropriate". The spokesman said that Saddam Hussein's forces had mortared their own populations in a bid to suppress the revolt, until the Iraqis were "destroyed" by British artillery. Meanwhile, the First Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment is still believed to be located in safer terrain around the Rumaylah oil fields. The battalion is involved in what its commander Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins described as dealing with the "detritus of war". This includes accepting the surrender of Iraqi troops and making safe unused ammunition. An Army source with the battalion said today that fighting in the area ceased on Sunday and that the RIR was heavily involved in humanitarian work. He said that the troops had enjoyed a good reception from the local population, but were keen to move forward to Basra or any other location where they could use their frontline training. UUP councillor Michael Copeland, a former Army officer who has family connections with the Irish Guards, said: "I would imagine that the fighting in Basra could be difficult. "The speed of the campaign depends upon the ease with which elements loyal to Saddam Hussein can be separated and isolated from the local population," he added.
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Comments (5 of 5)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5ourselves. Of course any help from down south more than welcome.
See youse all pretty soon up here anyway (5th april)
Phone the British Army Press attache in Army Headquarters, Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, Co Down. He's taken a few friendly calls from a few of us already. I'm sure he'd love to hear from more of us.
His mobile number is (from the North or Britain): 077 408 42 453
(from the Republic or elsewhere):
(004477) 408 42 453.
As him if he has room for any Iraqi refugees at Thiepval.
Hi, I'm a brave Gulf war soldier, in order to get fighting in the Gulf, we had to sign a MOD contract which allowed us to recieve a lovely cocktail of anti biological warfare vaccines. Gosh and now after serving in the Gulf, i'm all sick with bleeding gums, paralysis, and deadly blood clots, I'm like the walking dead, and I can't go to work. MOD please give me compensation, I served the brit queen and crown loyally. Oops they can't because I signed a contract waivering my right to sue the MOD or claim compensation for vaccine damage just before I was given the vaccines. Damn.Now I am crippled with mystery ailments and have to live on the breadline, our baby daughter was born deformed and only lived for 6 hours, cancers are ravaging my body. thanx very much my treatment by the MOD shows just how much my Queen and country value my loyal services over the years.
Ireland has long served as a training ground for imperialism,..and, as a source of cannon fodder. Little has changed, except that the IRA surrender will release more troops for further imperial adventures.
2 years later and we're still waiting, btw, another battalion of Royal Irish has just left in the last month.