Coalition Forces in Ramadi Attacked From Mosque

RAMADI, Iraq, Aug. 25, 2006 – Coalition forces were attacked today from the Al Qadir Al Kilami mosque in Ramadi, Iraq, military officials here reported. The attack at about 12:30 p.m. included small-arms and machine-gun fire, rocket-propelled grenades, hand grenades and a makeshift bomb, officials said.

Coalition forces returned fire in self-defense using escalation-of-force procedures, officials said, and finally fired several main gun rounds from M1 tanks into the mosque to defeat the attackers. The mosque's dome and minaret were heavily damaged.

A coalition soldier was wounded in the attack, but later returned to duty. Officials said no assessment was available yet on enemy or civilian casualties.