Iraqi soldier guns down two US troops in Mosul drill

EnglishLady

Veteran Expediter
BBC News Jan 15

Two US soldiers have been killed when an Iraqi soldier opened fire on them during a training exercise in northern Iraq, US and Iraqi officials say.

The officials - speaking on condition of anonymity - said the incident happened at al-Ghazlani training camp in the city of Mosul.

It was the final drill to showcase US efforts in training Iraqis before next week's visit by US and Iraqi generals.

The Iraqi soldier who opened fire was arrested, US military officials said.

Separately, a US soldier was killed in central Iraq.

The US military gave no further details of the circumstances of that incident.

Motive unclear

"According to available information, two American soldiers were killed today (Saturday) during a training session inside al-Ghazlani," an Iraqi colonel in Mosul was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Another US soldier was injured in the incident.

This was confirmed by a US military official in the city.

In a statement later on Saturday, the US military said that two US soldiers were killed and one was wounded while conducting operations in northern Iraq, without providing further details.

The US soldiers were from the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Ft Hood, Texas, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Attacks by Iraqi soldiers or police against US troops in northern Iraq are rare but not unprecedented.

In 2009, two Iraqi police officers opened fire on US soldiers and Iraqi police in Mosul. One US soldier was killed in the attack.

An Iraqi army soldier shot dead two US troops and injured another six in the city.

Washington officially ended combat operations in Iraq last August, leaving fewer than 50,000 US troops in Iraq.

The soldiers' role is to advise and assist Iraq's security forces in fighting insurgents.
 

aristotle

Veteran Expediter
Over the Christmas holidays, my son described the death of a US Marine at the hands of an Afghani barber. The young Marine and a couple of buddies walked into a nearby village to get haircuts and see the town. The Marine patiently waited for his turn in the barber's chair. Once seated and draped, the barber immediately shoved scissors into the Marine's throat.

The Afghani people really, really do not want us there.
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
See I think part of the problem is the idea we need to win the hearts and minds of the people, which has backfired on us a few times. I think we need to speak on their level, tell them that if they want to live under the taliban without any of our aid, then they don't have to support us and we will leave. IF they like living like that, then that's fine with us.
 

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Some what us there, some don't. If we are going to stay, let's fight an all out war, where ever the enemy is, kill them, end it and move on. Otherwise, come home, build HUGH walls and fences around the country and wait for them to attack us. This is no middle ground.
 
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