Jordan missile attack on US ship

**SloMax** · 19 Aug 05, 12:57

Jordan missile attack on US ship

At least one missile has been fired at a US Navy ship docked in the Jordanian port of Aqaba, officials said.

The rocket missed the USS Ashland, but hit a nearby warehouse killing one Jordanian soldier and injuring another.

In a second attack minutes later another missile, also launched from Jordanian soil, was fired at an airport in Eilat, in neighbouring Israel.

Israeli and Jordanian authorities are working together to track down the unknown assailants.

Rapid departure

"I can confirm that a rocket flew over the bow of USS Ashland and the rocket impacted in the roof of a warehouse. No sailors or marines were injured," said Commander Breslau, of the US Fifth Fleet, said.

The Jordanian soldier who died was on the dockside when he was hit. He was taken to hospital where he died of his wounds, a security source said.

Katyusha rockets were used in both attacks, officials say.

The USS Ashland and its sister amphibious ship, the USS Kearsarge, have been docked in Aqaba, Jordan's only sea port, for the past 10 days, witnesses said.

Both ships are reported to have left the port in response to the attack.

The second rocket landed on the outskirts of an airport in the Red Sea resort of Eilat, but did not explode, Israeli police reported.

Close co-operation

The missile created a small crater in the road, about 15m from the airport fence, local police commander, Avi Azulin told the Associated Press.

The commander said the rocket was fired from nearby Jordan.

Aqaba and Eilat are about 15km (9 miles) apart, located at the northern end of the Red Sea.

Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz speaking said the attacks were "intended to hit the Israeli side and the Jordanian side as well".

"We still don't know who is behind this act," he said.

link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4165190.stm

**SloMax** · 20 Aug 05, 16:17

Jordanians hunt rocket suspects

Security forces in the Jordanian port of Aqaba are hunting for suspected Arab militants who fired three rockets at two US warships and nearby Israel.

Hundreds of police and troops conducted house-to-house searches for Iraqi, Syrian and Egyptian suspects.

An internet statement, purportedly from a group which claims links to al-Qaeda, said it was behind the attacks.

One rocket hit a warehouse, killing a Jordanian soldier. The others fell near a hospital and Eilat airport in Israel.

The White House denounced the incident.

"We strongly condemn all attacks like these and are investigating in co-operation with Jordanian officials," spokesman Trent Duffy said.

"The US will always make every effort to support and defend our servicemen and women in harm's way, as they protect the American people."

Internet claim

Security forces cordoned off part of Aqaba in their hunt for Friday's attackers, as helicopters flew overhead.

A Jordanian security source said earlier that officers were searching for two Iraqis and a Syrian thought to have rented an industrial warehouse from which the rockets were fired.

Officials say the attackers fired three Katyusha rockets.

One of them whistled over the bows of the USS Ashland and slammed into a warehouse on the quayside of the Red Sea port.

The rocket aimed at Eilat's airport hit a taxi, but caused no injuries.

A statement, allegedly from the Abdullah al-Azzam Brigades, said the attacks were the group's first in Jordan, and were aimed at both the US and Israel.

The group is one of several to have said it carried out the bombings on a market and hotels in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh on 23 July.

Correspondents say Friday's attack is the most serious on a US navy ship since the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000 that killed 17 sailors.

Both the USS Ashland and its sister amphibious ship, the USS Kearsarge, left the port in response.

Aqaba is Jordan's only sea port. Eilat is about 15km (9 miles) away, located at the northern end of the Red Sea.

link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4168182.stm

Which branch of Al-Qaeda (Iraqi, Palestinian or Jordan) was involved here?

**Ray** · 20 Aug 05, 21:07

The Americans may forgive me, but this is what happens when you give sophisticated weapons in the hands of thugs.

The illiterateTaliban and thier clones seem to have mastered the trick.

It is time they should be wiped out from the face of the Earth.

Kid gloves won't do.

The audacity to target ships!

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