From U.S. News & World Report, by far the best of the American weeklies, comes an amazing story. Captain Ed at Captain’s Quarters has also remarked on this report.
It dates from early last September. The facts are pretty straightforward:
5-73 Cav was conducting a joint border patrol of the Iraq/Iran border with soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division east of Balad Ruz. During the conduct of the patrol, the patrol observed two Iranian soldiers run from Iraq back across the Iranian border as they approached. Later, the patrol came upon a single Iranian soldier on the Iraqi side of the border who did not flee.
As the patrol was speaking to the Iranian soldier, they were approached by a platoon-size element of Iranian soldiers. An Iranian border captain informed the joint Iraqi and Coalition force patrol that if they tried to leave their location the Iranians would fire upon them. While talking to the Iranian border captain, the patrol was engaged by Iranian forces with smallarms and RPG fire. The CF Soldiers returned fire to break contact and left the area to report the incident. The Iranian forces continued to fire indirect fire well into Iraq as CF Soldiers withdrew; for reasons unknown at this time, the Iraqi Army forces remained behind.
In other words, Iranian troops lured a joint US/Iraqi border patrol unit into a trap, ordered them to remain where they were, and opened fire on them with pistols and grenade launchers. The Americans fought back and got away. The Iraqis, for reasons unknown, stayed there.
It’s hard to say whether the Iranians were trying to kidnap or “just kill” the Americans of 5-73 Cavalry.
For me, there are two fascinating questions.
–First, was this the first time for such an event? Was it unusual to find Iranian soldiers–presumably in uniform, otherwise how could we tell they were “soldiers”?–running back and forth across the border? And, to followup, why didn’t we attempt to arrest the one guy, instead of chatting him up?
Apparently, our policy changed after this, leading to the arrests of several Iranian military officers later in the year.
–Second, were the Iraqis in the “joint patrol” in cahoots with the Iranians? It does sound that way, doesn’t it? Or were they paralyzed by fear and unable to move?
A great story. I’m trying to get answers, but kudos to U.S. News.
Digg This
del.icio.us
PJM Home
5 Comments
a Duoist:There is no love lost between Persian Iranian troops and Arab Iraqi troops, regardless of whether both are Shi’ite. Could it be that the Iraqis stayed behind because their well-developed sense of honor made it imperative that they not be seen to flee from the Iranians?
Mar 24, 2007 - 4:55 pm winston:I am most certain that Iranian regime WANTS the war to be able to survive. The mullahs wont stop until they destroy the entire Iran.
This can be where British are being held in Tehran
Mar 25, 2007 - 12:06 am Rivrdog:Seeing as how this has become a trend for Iran, I would expect more of it. They will try the hostage game again, it seems.
Armidinijhad is trying to goad us into war, because his position as head of state is deteriorating rapidly due to his total ineptness as managing anything.
We are wise to refuse to play his game, but all will depend on the level of atrocities against US personnel. As these smaller incidents fail to get the Coalition involved, he will escalate, I’m sure.
I have a nasty feeling that he wants to try something to demonstrate on the 40th anniversary of the Arab-Isreli War that the Arab side can now kick ass.
Classic “Wag the Dog”
Mar 25, 2007 - 1:04 pm Don:When our forces are attacked by the Iranian military, that is by definition an act of war. There you have it, so it’s time to declare war on Iran. What are we waiting for? I’m nearly 58 years old, but I’m going to get a waiver to back into the Army. At this time, I’m angling for a direct commission. I never got any higher than buck sergeant in my prior service days, but I figure to go back in as at least a colonel. Let’s stop this namby-pamby fooling around with these Persians purveyors of terror and aggression. As my grandpappy used to say, “Get the dive bombers and blow their asses off!” Let the fun begin
Mar 25, 2007 - 1:34 pm dane:Kill all the ragheads, my uncle was in that mess. The Iraqis are pansies, I know from personal experiance. They would surrender to a troop of blind girlscouts. Oh wait thats the French. But still they are not the hardcore soldiers like we are. Thats why we were able to roll the country so fast on the first push. The men in that convoy get my utmost respect. And I have met some of them personally. They did the right thing. And trust me they killed alot of those bastards.
ML:
Convoy? What convoy? Please try to make posts substantive and explicit, not gratuitous insults.
Jul 1, 2008 - 9:26 pm