Al-Karmah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Al Karmah الكرمة |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Iraq |
| Governorate | Al Anbar |
| Population (2008) | |
| - Total | 116,000 |
Al-Karmah or Karma (Arabic: الكرمة) Located 16km northeast of Fallujah in the Al Anbar province, is a city in central Iraq.
there about 25,000 Family immigrants from Fallujah in Al-Karmah.
[edit] Invasion of Iraq
During the Second Battle of Fallujah, residents of Karma funneled weapons and medical aid into the besieged city, proudly proclaiming their allegiance to the insurgency.[1] The city's cement factory was shelled by US artillery that month, after residents massed around it.[2]
For most of 2005 to 2007 it was considered the most violent city in Iraq. Unlike nieghboring Fallujah, it has no wall around the city, so anti-american insurgents were able to move freely in and out of the areas. Attacks on coalition forces were a daily occurrence in this city, with aerial mortar attacks, as well as small arms attacks almost daily on coalition patrols, convoys, and the FOB's (Forward Operating Bases) of Camp Delta, OP (Observations Post) 2, OP 2A and OP 3.
During 2005, a massive vehicle borne IED was driven into Observation Post 2 destroying the entire compound.
In September 2005, it was the site first establishment of the New Iraqi Army's operations in the area, operating at Observation Post 3 and Camp Delta, although still housed a very strong anti-American presence of local insurgents.[3] On July 8 of that year, an IED struck a US convoy, before insurgents fired mortars on the damaged convoy, resulting in "many" wounded casualties.[4]
In November 2005, the first Iraqi Police station was established in Karmah. It was met with violence from the local population, who strongly oppossed any coalition forces, although it was willing to withstand numerous coordinated attacks it still operates and is working in coordination with the New Iraqi Army[5] as well as coalition forces.
On February 7 2007, a US Marines CH-46E Sea Knight from HMM-364 was shot down by a shoulder-fired missile, in Karma, killing all 7 on board. Three of the US Army Engineers sent to secure the wreckage were also killed by an IED[6][7] 13 days later, US forces raided a "car bomb factory" where they discovered five vehicles, three 55-gallon barrels of chlorine, three barrels of nitroglycerine, artillery rounds and bombs. One man was detained, and the US stated that the factory was likely run by al-Qaeda.[8] On March 17, insurgents attacked an army foot patrol, killing two of them. Eleven days later, a National Guard humvee was reported destroyed, with insurgents claiming all aboard were killed. Two days later, a less successful bomb destroyed a humvee, with no casualties. On April 2, another humvee was reported destroyed, with all aboard once again reported killed.[9]
On August 22 2007, a safe house wired with explosives was destroyed in the city, believed to have been an arms cache as well as a launching point for mortars that had targeted the police station in Karma.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ FT.com / In depth - ‘Every town will become a Falluja’
- ^ Allawi Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Fallujah Offensive - UN Security Council - Global Policy Forum
- ^ Michael Fumento: Back to Fallujah
- ^ GI SPECIAL 4G9 - 9/7/06
- ^ Michael Fumento: Back to Fallujah
- ^ Light Warfare - Forbes.com
- ^ LiveLeak.com - Video of Islamic State of Iraq Shooting Down an American Chinook Helicopter in Al-Karma
- ^ U.S. says Iraq chlorine bomb factory was al Qaeda's | Reuters
- ^ Defiant Fallujah Remains Hot As Mujahideen Log Near Daily Attacks Against The Occupiers
- ^ Multi-National Force - Iraq - Karmah terrorist safe house destroyed following Iraqi Scout, U.S. Special Operations Forces raid
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