US fires at 'al-Qaida'-linked group
The US military today confirmed it fired five cruise missiles at the base of a group it says was linked to al-Qaida in the mountains of north-east Iraq.
A senior Kurdish official added that a ground offensive against Ansar al Islam, utilising Kurdish forces, was being prepared and could start within hours. A Kurdish military official confirmed the report.
Meanwhile, an Australian journalist for America’s ABC network was killed by a car bombing with four locals in the same area later today.
The blast happened at a checkpoint close to the Ansar al-Islam camp.
Reporters had gone to the site to interview refugees who were streaming away from the area that had been attacked with cruise missiles.
One of the cars coming out with the refugees exploded, according to an account pieced together from witnesses and reporters.
Eight wounded people were taken to hospitals in the surrounding area.
In Qatar, US General Tommy Franks, the man running the war against Iraq, confirmed last night’s missile attacks on the Ansar camp.
Kurdish officials said at least 100 people had died in the bombardment.
Ansar al-Islam, a militant Islamic group with 700 hardcore members and alleged ties to both al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein’s government, has said it has been involved in killing dozens or Kurdish officials or soldiers over since it became active in late 2001.
Civilians have often died or been wounded in Ansar’s suicide bombings, ambushes and assassinations, centred around the 18 villages it controls near the city of Halabja next to the Iranian border.
The attack on Ansar comes as the US prepares to step up a northern front against Saddam’s government to take control of the oil-rich cities of Kirkuk and Mosul.
Hundreds of people fled Khurmal.
“I am afraid of another barrage of missiles coming at us,” said Mohammed Rahman, 17, as he walked away with his cousins, carrying a bag with clothing in it.
“We are living an abnormal life, we are living in endless fear and war,” said Rangi Said, 18 who carried a basket of food.
Many Kurdish officials have feared Ansar could disrupt any American presence in the area. Several weeks ago, Kurdish counter-terrorism officials spotted carloads of alleged Ansar militants near sites said to be visited by the US clandestine operatives active in the autonomous Kurdish zone.
Kurdish officials have often accused Ansar of harbouring Afghan-trained members of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida.
“Terrorism is an international problem,” said Barham Salih, prime minister of the Patriotic Union-controlled section of northern Iraq. “We need international help in combating Ansar.”
In a February address to the UN Security Council, US Secretary of State Colin Powell claimed Ansar was the missing link tying al-Qaida to Saddam’s regime.
