Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Iraq, Iran Navies Clash
I find it odd that there is so little reporting about something that could be quite a significant event such as this.
Iraq, Iran Navies Clash: One Killed, Nine Captured
Tuesday, January 17,
2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The governor of Basra, the largest city in
southern Iraq, on Tuesday accused Iranian naval forces of killing one Iraqi
sailor and capturing nine others during a skirmish Saturday near the Shatt
al-Arab waterway, or Arvand River.
Gov. Mohammed al-Waeli said the clash
occurred after an Iraqi Navy ship spotted a suspicious merchant vessel flying an
Iraqi flag and carrying smuggled Iraqi diesel. Al-Waeli claimed the merchant
ship radioed Iranian forces for help and an Iranian Navy ship attacked the Iraqi
patrol.
"We denounce this aggression by the Iranian navy against our
vessels inside Iraqi waters and we are making contacts with the Iranians to
ensure the release of those who were captured," al-Waeli said.
No
Iranian comment was immediately available.
The waterway runs along the
Iran-Iraq border and has long been a source of tension between Iran and Iraq.
The 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war broke out after Saddam Hussein claimed the entire
waterway for Iraq.
posted by El Capitan at 8:06 AM
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