Attack Techniques of Iraqi Resistance Forces Becoming More Elaborate

Rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, civilian-made rocket launchers set on donkey cart, former Soviet Union made ground-to-air missiles, a car loaded with a time bomb…

The Iraqi resistance forces have developed these types of weapon and fighting styles as the days roll by. The more they improve themselves, the narrower the “Safety Zone” for the U.S. armed forces becomes.

Mighty financial power of the restraint forces – The U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in its recently released report, analyzed that “most of the attacks which have taken place since the May 1st end of major combat declaration were instigated by the supporters of the former Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein. They offered ‘reward’ money, about $150 to $500, in an effort to persuade the Iraqi people to attack the U.S. forces.”

In order to carry out these processions, the resistance forces have a $1 billion fund, estimated CSIS.

Standing face to face with the resistance forces, the U.S. forces have also brought over intelligence agents with money at their sides, following through with “Dollar Operation,” in an effort to hunt down the terrorists. “Money is more necessary than soldiers,” the U.S. commanders all raised their voices.

The “Evolving” Terror Techniques – It was around July, only two months after the end of major combat declaration, when the U.S. 4th Infantry Division, in charge of the Tikrit area, the hometown of Hussein, was attacked with by RPG bombs. The Iraqi resistance forces made use of civilian-made bombs by setting up several C4 bombs and scattering it on the road or onto a suicide vehicle. Rocket launchers and trench mortars have even turned up recently.

The suicide vehicles are used indiscriminately nowadays. However, after examining the remains of the suicide vehicle which attacked the U.N. offices in Baghdad, it was discovered that some bombs had failed to explode. It was inferred that their detonation techniques seem to be very poor.

Rocket missiles and Ground-to-air missiles are the most intimidating weapons – It is well-known that Hussein had his army officers watch the Hollywood movie, “Black Hawk Down,” which described accurately of a scene in which a ground-to-air bazooka missile brought down the U.S. army helicopter. He suggested the ground-to-air missile as a natural enemy of the armed helicopter.

About six helicopters have been shot down since the end of the Iraqi War, although the U.S. forces have put them in operations away from populated areas and the roads.

It was also the ground-to-air missiles that forced DHL’s Airbus-300 cargo craft to make an emergency landing. The former Soviet-made SA-7 (Target area 3.2km) also has been used in terrorism acts.

The farthest targeting area of the rocket missile which attacked Al Rashid Hotel in October 26, was unveiled as 7km, shocking people around the world. If this rocket is launched in a populated area from this targeting distance, it is nearly impossible to prevent it in advance.

The rocket missiles which attacked the Palestine Hotel on November 21 were loaded with a time bomb equipped with a car battery detonator. It was also launched without a driver who remotely controlled the exact time of blowing-up as the U.S. military could not repress their astonishment.

Advanced hiding techniques – Al Rashid Hotel and Palestine Hotel have been tightly guarded by the U.S. forces so far. However, the resistance forces covered up the rocket launchers with fake emergency power generator lids, when it tried to attack the Al Rashid Hotel.

In the case of the attack on the Palestine Hotel, they used a donkey cart. It is common to see Iraqis using donkey cart loaded with emergency power generator to prepare for electricity cut-off daily, and so these resistance forces can avoid suspicion.

Rae-Jeong Park ecopark@donga.com