I have no idea what this is all about, but this is the first time I’ve ever heard of “Iraqi forces” responding to a US convoy bombing.
Witnesses told Associated Press Television News that an American convoy was attacked early Saturday near the town of Haswa, about 25 miles south of the capital.
After the U.S. troops pulled out, Iraqi police and National Guards arrived on the scene. Witnesses said Iraqi troops opened fire randomly and used hand grenades, hitting three minibuses and three trucks.
The U.S. military had no immediate comment.
Doctor Salah al-Janabi of Iskandariyah General Hospital said the hospital received at least 11 bodies, and at least another 15 people were injured. He said more casualties could have been taken to other hospitals.
The area is a major insurgent hotspot where ambushes and attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces are common.
APTN footage showed bloody, dead bodies riddled with bullet holes inside the buses and on the street. Blood and gas was trickling underneath the vehicles. Empty bullet cases were also scattered around.
An APTN cameraman saw at least 18 bodies, while witnesses said there were more than 20 people killed in the incident.
The footage also showed the morgue of Iskandariyah Hospital packed with bodies stacked on top of each other.
This is the area to which the British Black Watch troops were just moved. I’ll update this post if any new information surfaces.