 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Destroyed in Attack
American Forces Press Service
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 12, 2004 — A Multinational Force Iraq Bradley fighting vehicle was destroyed during an attack this morning on Hayfa Street near the International Zone in Baghdad.
The Bradley and its crew were en route to assist a small unit under fire when it was hit by a car bomb and was rendered inoperable. Two of the Bradley crewmen were wounded in the attack.
While evacuating the vehicle, the crewmembers came under attack by hand grenades, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire, wounding four more soldiers.
Soldiers kept an eye on the vehicle from a safe distance, ensuring that sensitive equipment and weapons were not taken.
Air support was called, and as the helicopters flew over the burning Bradley, they received small-arms fire from the insurgents near the vehicle. Clearly within the rules of engagement, officials said, the helicopters returned fire, destroying some anti-Iraqi forces near the Bradley and preventing the loss of sensitive equipment and weapons.
As the helicopters made their final pass, the Bradley fighting vehicle was on fire and a crowd was gathering around the vehicle. The aircrew could not discriminate between armed insurgents and civilians on the ground, officials said, and therefore did not reengage. U.S. forces on the ground did not engage the crowd of civilians that gathered around the vehicle, officials added.
An unknown number of insurgents and Iraq civilians were wounded or killed in the incident, which is under investigation.
(Courtesy of Multinational Force Iraq.) | 
Army
09-13-2004, 20:10
