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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| British troops kill Basra militia | British troops kill Basra militia |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| British forces have killed more than 10 Shia gunmen in an insurgent stronghold in Basra, southern Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has said. | British forces have killed more than 10 Shia gunmen in an insurgent stronghold in Basra, southern Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
| The troops had entered the hostile Shia Flats area on Tuesday to search a house when they were attacked, said the MoD. | The troops had entered the hostile Shia Flats area on Tuesday to search a house when they were attacked, said the MoD. |
| The soldiers held off gun and grenade attacks for more than two hours, before fighting their way back to base. | The soldiers held off gun and grenade attacks for more than two hours, before fighting their way back to base. |
| Lt Col Kevin Stratford-Wright, military spokesman in Basra, said "things turned nasty" very quickly. | Lt Col Kevin Stratford-Wright, military spokesman in Basra, said "things turned nasty" very quickly. |
| "We get attacked on a regular basis, but this was certainly the biggest attack of its type for a while," he added. | "We get attacked on a regular basis, but this was certainly the biggest attack of its type for a while," he added. |
| News of the operation came as the bodies of four British service personnel killed by a roadside bomb in Basra last week were flown back to the UK. | News of the operation came as the bodies of four British service personnel killed by a roadside bomb in Basra last week were flown back to the UK. |
| Paperwork abandoned | Paperwork abandoned |
| Around 400 troops from the 2nd Battalion the Rifles and the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster regiment were involved in the gun battle on the western outskirts of Basra. | Around 400 troops from the 2nd Battalion the Rifles and the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster regiment were involved in the gun battle on the western outskirts of Basra. |
| Lt Col Stratford-Wright told the BBC News website they had been acting on intelligence when they searched a house believed to be linked to the insurgency in the area. | Lt Col Stratford-Wright told the BBC News website they had been acting on intelligence when they searched a house believed to be linked to the insurgency in the area. |
| "The individuals fled just as we arrived, leaving their meals on the table, but we found material that indicated they were involved in attacks," he said. | "The individuals fled just as we arrived, leaving their meals on the table, but we found material that indicated they were involved in attacks," he said. |
| Their tactics were clumsy and that's why so many of them would have been hit Lt Col Kevin Stratford-Wright | |
| "It was paperwork, but there's no way anyone would have that sort of paperwork unless they were interested in launching rockets and mortars." | |
| Lt Col Stratford-Wright said the atmosphere in the area suddenly changed after two men were seen using mobile phones to apparently gather members of the militia together. | Lt Col Stratford-Wright said the atmosphere in the area suddenly changed after two men were seen using mobile phones to apparently gather members of the militia together. |
| "Things were going really well, it was a pretty benign environment. People were waving, children were talking to the soldiers, but then clearly word came in and things turned nasty very quickly." | "Things were going really well, it was a pretty benign environment. People were waving, children were talking to the soldiers, but then clearly word came in and things turned nasty very quickly." |
| Assault rifles | Assault rifles |
| The insurgents were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. | The insurgents were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. |
| As many as 20 may have been killed, but the MoD is still trying to establish whether any civilians were hurt. | As many as 20 may have been killed, but the MoD is still trying to establish whether any civilians were hurt. |
| An Iraqi policeman died in hospital after being shot by one of the militia and two insurgents were arrested. | An Iraqi policeman died in hospital after being shot by one of the militia and two insurgents were arrested. |
| Lt Col Stratford-Wright described the attack as "ill-thought out". | Lt Col Stratford-Wright described the attack as "ill-thought out". |
| "Their tactics were clumsy and that's why so many of them would have been hit." |