aggiornamenti su Fallujah

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Fonte al jazeera


Counter claims

But Abu Shams al-Fallujy, a member of the National Islamic Resistance in Falluja, told Aljazeera that US forces had entered the city's centre rapidly because they were surrounded in the Julan neighbourhood and were being targeted by snipers.


US troops have encountered
fierce resistance in the city

"The US troops say they have controlled the town. In fact, they are only in control of the town centre where there are no resistance fighters. The town's centre is resided by the civilian population who had escaped the outskirts of the town to avoid a crossfire as a result of the intense US bombing and resistance.

"With respect to Julan, al-Askary, Nizal, Jibail and the industrial quarter, they are still under control of the resistance which vows not to allow the US forces to control the town unless it is turned into dust," al-Fallujy said.

"The situation in the town is very critical. The US forces began a retreat under intense resistance fire. They are conducting a ferocious aerial bombing and artillery barrage. They have not accomplished any advance towards the edges of the town," al-Fallujy added.
P.S
In sintesi gli americani hanno raggiunto il centro citta' per sfuggire agli attacchi ai lati della guerriglia, ma Fallujah resta saldamente in mano ai patrioti nonostante i continui bombardamenti dei nazisti yankee.

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http://www.albasrah.net/moqawama/eng...ort_091104.htm

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Falluja troops under heavy fire

The official number of casualties is not known
US marines in Falluja have come under sustained attack from several different directions in the headquarters they have set up in the Iraqi city.
The BBC's Paul Wood, who is at the scene, said there was sniper fire from four or five points on the horizon.

The insurgents may have regrouped, he says, after US-led troops took over large parts of the city.

Another BBC correspondent says troops have pulled back from the city hospital, captured on Sunday night.


Meanwhile, two US Cobra helicopters were hit by small-arms and rocket fire in separate incidents and forced to land.

URBAN WARFARE



Techniques, tactics and the history of fighting in cities
Q&A: Falluja tactics

The crews of both aircraft were rescued unhurt, the US military said, but some reports suggest one of the pilots was hit with small-arms fire.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Richard Myers said that "hundreds and hundreds" of insurgents had been killed and captured in the Falluja operation.

A US military official told reporters more than 500 had died.

Residents trapped in the battered city said they could smell the stench of decomposing bodies.


In other developments in Iraq:



At least 17 people were killed in a car bomb in a busy Baghdad shopping area.

US-led troops find three Iraqi contractors and an Iraqi taxi-driver in Falluja believed to be held as hostages

Masked insurgents in the northern city of Mosul attack several police stations and loot weapons and ammunition, before setting at least two of them on fire

Kirkuk Governor Abdulrahman Mustafa escapes an assassination attempt in the northern city, but several people are injured in the bomb attack on his convoy.
House-to-house

Our correspondent says the US marines have had to call in four air strikes as they came under heavy fire in central Falluja.

Insurgents appear to have got to the perimeter of the headquarters, he says.

At the same time, a rifle company of marines has been pushing out into the city, going literally house to house to try to clear out the insurgents.

But the company came under continuous fire as soon as it left the base.

US-led forces said earlier on Thursday they had rid more than 70% of the city of insurgents in the battle.

Pockets of resistance


The rebels are said to be disorganised and leaderless, but still dangerous.

FALLUJA ASSAULT FACTS
Up to 15,000 US and Iraqi troops involved
Estimated 3,000 Iraqi insurgent and foreign fighters in city
Estimated 50,000 civilians remain out of usual population of some 300,000


Eyewitness account
In pictures: Falluja offensive
The BBC's Paul Wood says troops are coming under sniper fire all over the city, he says.


US forces say they have taken control of the district of Jolan, just north of the centre.

However, a witness told the BBC that US forces were still fighting for control there at midday.

Villages to the west of the city, thought by the US to be clear of insurgents, are also reporting sniper, mortar and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

Concerns are growing about the humanitarian situation in and around Falluja.

Red Crescent spokeswoman Firdoos al-Ubadi said Falluja was a "disaster", with doctors unable to reach most Iraqi casualties and medical equipment virtually non-existent.

There is little information on the number of military or civilian casualties in Falluja.

At least 13 US troops have been killed so far, according to military reports pieced together by Reuters.