Two American Soldiers Dead in Iraq as Massive Raid Takes Place to Catch Gang Leader

26/08/2003| IslamWeb

An American soldier was killed Tuesday after a support convoy was hit with a roadside bomb in the town of Hamariyah, the military announced. Two other soldiers were wounded in the blast, said U.S. Central Command spokesman Maj. Mike Escudie. Earlier, a US soldier has died from bullet wounds sustained in a "non-hostile incident", which is still under investigation, the US army said in a statement Tuesday. A soldier with the 130th Engineers Brigade succumbed to gunshot wounds in a "non-hostile incident," which took place Monday in Baghdad, the army said. In the meantime, hundreds of American troops, backed by helicopters, tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, launched a raid in Khalis Tuesday in an attempt to capture the leader of a "notorious" gang wanted for attacks against US forces and "terrorizing" Iraqi civilians, according to the AP. Col. David Hogg, commander of 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, said forces had captured 24 suspected gang members, but had not found its leader, Lateef Hamed al Kubaishat, also known as Lateef by US forces. Hogg added that US authorities consider the "brigands" to be a "terrorist organization." "Their primary focus is probably criminal activity, but they have attacked coalition forces through direct and indirect means," Hogg told the AP. "As long as he (Lateef) is in place we will not be able to establish the conditions for the Iraqi police to establish law and order in the area." He added that the local police were scared of Lateef's gang, which operates out of the town of Khalis. "This operation will go a long way to show the Iraqi population that we are doing this for them. It's part of our mission to provide a safe and secure environment so they can continue to build government structures and security structures," Hogg said. Lateef's gang is involved in "all types of illicit activities from weapons sales to you name it. We know he's setting up illegal checkpoints to attack, rob and kill Iraqis," Hogg said. Lateef - described by US intelligence as being 35 years old, 6 foot 2 inches, 220 pounds and "stooped like a gorilla," was imprisoned serving multiple life sentences for murder until former leader Saddam Hussein granted amnesty to all prisoners several months ago. **PHOTO CAPTION*** US soldiers guard from behind razor wire the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) headquarters based at a former presidential palace of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, 25 August 2003. (AFP/Robert Sullivan )