US destroys old Iraqi arsenal
United States demolition experts cheered as thousands of old Iraqi tank and artillery rounds exploded in a huge fireball, creating a mushroom cloud of dark grey smoke and a boom that was heard more than 10 kilometres away.
US soldiers have repeatedly said they were shocked at the massive amounts of ammunition stored in underground bunkers that dot the countryside of Iraq, especially in areas near Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.
In the last few months, soldiers in that region have destroyed 15,000 tons of ammunition, said Maj. Ron Zimmerman, of the 299th Engineering Battalion, which carried out Saturday’s blast.
Insurgents are active in the central areas of Iraq and U.S. soldiers fear that they could be raiding old ammunition bunkers for supplies.
“There is a lot of stuff here. We’re finding more stuff everyday,” said Lt. Michael Tobias.
He said it was important for US soldiers to destroy the ammunition so “terrorists don’t get their hands on them.”
