U.S. Marines battled anti-Coalition forces in Fallujah during the last 24 hours, killing at least 17 attackers. Ten attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s at Marines from a house in eastern Fallujah around 6:45 p.m. April 20. The group is suspected of similar attacks over the past three days. Marines responded by firing mortars at the house. Three vehicles of armed attackers arrived shortly afterward, and Marines again fired mortars, killing eight attackers and destroying all three vehicles.
At around 9:30 p.m. April 20, 12 attackers in two white SUVs pulled up to the Fallujah Liaison Team Building, got out of their vehicles and fired on it with small arms. Army military police fired back and the attackers fled. A mobile security patrol attempted to capture the attackers but was unable to locate them.
At around 6:30 a.m. April 21, Marines were attacked by approximately 40 insurgents in northwest Fallujah. The attackers fired on the Marines with small arms and RPGs from the cover of a nearby palm grove. Marines called in attack helicopters, which fired on the attackers, killing nine and wounding an unknown number. Three Marines were wounded in the engagement.
Marines maintain the right to use decisive but proportional force to defend themselves, Coalition forces, Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi population. |