Fierce Battle Between US Marines, Fighters Rages In Village North Of Ramadi
Jun 08, 2005
By Muhammad Abu Nasr, Free Arab Voice; Edited For Publication By JUS

In a dispatch posted at 10:30am Monday morning, Mecca time, Mafkarat al-Islam reported that at that fierce fighting was raging between the Iraqi fighters and US Marines in the village of al-Bu Faraj at the northern entrance to the city of Ramadi.

QudsPress reported local residents as saying that a force of between fifty and sixty fighters armed with light and medium weapons were fighting US troops near the al-Quds Mosque.

Witnesses told Mafkarat al-Islam that the Americans had lured the fighters into an ambush in that area which they then encircled and sealed off, resulting in the battle, which they describe as being “ferocious.” Muslim fighters reportedly carried out hit-and-run attacks using the thick groves of date palms and the al-Quds ash-Sharif Mosque, which is located nearby, for cover.

QudsPress quoted witnesses as saying that the Americans were shelling date palm groves near the area, where the fighters were believed to be hiding, and that four US vehicles were visibly on fire. The sources said that American helicopters were in the skies over the area trying to fire at the fighters below

Mafkarat al-Islam reported that as of that time, the fighters had reportedly destroyed four US Humvees and one tank. Meanwhile, the First Army of Muhammad had attacked the Americans and were trying to break through the US encirclement around the village to get the surrounded fighters out with a minimum of casualties, now that they have inflicted casualties and material damage on the Americans.

In a dispatch posted at 11:25am Mecca time Monday morning, Mafkarat al-Islam reported that fighting was continuing between the US forces and Iraqi fighters, both sides alternately advancing and retreating.

The correspondent for Mafkarat al-Islam reported that a short while before fighters had managed to open a second battle line with the Americans who had previously encircled them.

More than 20 fighters reportedly attacked the area from the south, firing medium mortars and rockets, and forcing open a way through to their embattled brothers inside the encircled village, according to a Resistance source. The attack reportedly destroyed three Humvees and disabled one American personnel carrier that sank in the Euphrates River there.

The correspondent reported that US helicopters and fighter planes showed up over the battle zone, an indication of the losses suffered by the Americans, since they only call in such air support when they find themselves in difficult situations. As of press time, no further update on the Ramadi front has been received.