I wanted to put this up as another indicator of the latest evolution of suicide attacks in this war. As you can see, these jihadists are operating exactly like they have been operating in Afghanistan and Somalia. It’s as if operationally they are all being told to conduct this same type of attack where ever they can. They get close to the target wearing police or military uniforms, they start the attack with an explosive breach, they swarm in with multiple suicide assaulters and fight their way into pockets of human concentration and then detonate their suicide vests. With this scenario, keeping them from breaching is a priority of the defense.
The good news is that we are seeing the prepared defenses in this war slaughter these fools and stop them cold. It is pure comedy to hear about these dorks trying to penetrate the defenses of large bases. When they have to detonate in the open desert because their attack fails, and all they do is destroy a tumbleweed in their quest for martyrdom, I can’t help but to laugh. That is the reward for a good defense, and I salute those of you out there that have worked hard to achieve that.
The other thing that comes to mind is the importance of accurate fire. These assaulters could have rifle plates or similar under their suicide vests. The idea is so they can survive a gun shot and continue to fight their way into the heart of the compound or building. The ability to accurately shoot these guys in the head to shut them down, should be a consideration when discussing training for such an attack. Accuracy should already be a priority as a security specialist, and this kind of accuracy will certainly save lives. Of course any kind of heavy volume of fire upon the attackers is a good thing, and everyone will be trying to bring these animals down.
Finally, the idea that combat in Iraq is over is kind of stupid. In reality, this is far from the truth and I believe the insurgency will continue to test Iraqi forces and their US partners. We will also continue to see indirect fire land in the big bases that troops and contractors are stationed at. More than likely this indirect fire will increase at the various bases and we might even see some swarm attacks like we have been seeing in Afghanistan at a few of the large bases. I should note that Iraq has been on it’s highest terror alert this last week or so, and everyone is expecting the insurgency to conduct more of these types of attacks. –Matt
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Twelve killed in suicide assault on Iraq army base
Sep 5 2010
By Muhanad Mohammed
Up to six suicide bombers, some armed with rifles, tried to storm an army base in Baghdad on Sunday, killing 12 people and wounding 36 less than a week after Washington declared U.S. combat operations in Iraq over.
The assault began when a minibus packed with explosives was driven at the back gate of the base, followed by one or two suicide bombers on foot who blew themselves up when they came under fire.
A final pair of gunmen fought an hour-long battle with troops inside a nearby building, security officials said.
The U.S. military said its troops opened fire and provided air support for Iraqi forces during the gunbattle. U.S. forces are no longer officially on a combat mission in Iraq, but nearly 50,000 remain to train and assist the Iraqi military.
Sunday’s assault took place in broad daylight, just over two weeks after dozens of Iraqi army recruits and soldiers were killed by another suicide bomber at the same compound and a few days after the August 31 end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq.
Insurgents are targeting Iraqi police and troops as the U.S. military gradually pulls out more than seven years after invading, while the failure of Iraq’s leaders six months after an election to agree a new government has also stoked tensions.
“It was an attempt to break into the Rusafa military command,” said Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi, whose office put the final toll at 12 killed and 36 wounded.
“It was similar to the attack on the central bank but security forces foiled the assault and killed all attackers,” Moussawi said, referring to a June 13 siege by up to seven suicide bombers of the Central Bank of Iraq.
The explosions left a deep crater filled with body parts at the entrance to the base while bloodstains and bullet marks in an unused defense ministry building bore witness to a fierce gunfight.
“It was a well organised terrorist attack but our soldiers were alert and managed to stop them,” Defense Minister Abdel Qader Jassim said at the scene.
U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Eric Bloom said U.S. troops provided “suppressive fire” during the attack, as well as support through helicopters and drones. U.S. explosives experts were also brought in to examine the site.
GUNFIRE
Residents in the neighbourhood reported heavy shooting after the explosions and said the gunfire continued for over an hour.
Witnesses said they saw gunmen in one mainly Sunni district nearby that was an al Qaeda stronghold at the height in 2006/07 of the sectarian warfare unleashed after the U.S.-led invasion.
The base was a defense ministry headquarters under Saddam Hussein and now serves as an army recruitment center as well as a military command. At least 57 recruits and soldiers were killed and 123 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up there on August 17.
Tensions are simmering in Iraq six months after an inconclusive election that produced no outright winner.
Coalition talks among the country’s main Shi’ite-led blocs and a Sunni-backed cross-sectarian alliance that took a narrow lead in the March 7 vote have made little progress.
The end of the U.S. combat mission 7-1/2 years after the invasion to topple Saddam has raised fears of a return to broader bloodshed and of increased attacks by Sunni Islamist insurgents. Iraq’s 660,000-strong security forces had to be rebuilt from scratch after being disbanded after the invasion.
U.S. leaders said last week the Iraq war was in its final stages and that Iraqi security forces are capable of countering violence in the country, but many Iraqis do not believe their army and police are ready for the task.
Story here.