Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071106-09
November 6, 2007

Extremists fire rockets, destroy two Taji homes
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Extremists fired three rockets in an attempt to hit Camp Taji Nov. 3, missing their intended target and destroying two civilian homes near the city of Taji.

After hearing explosions, Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, operating out of a nearby outpost, responded to the scene where the rockets impacted in the village to find Iraqi civilian firefighters already at the site. The Soldiers discovered one house was destroyed and another was on fire.

In a little more than an hour, the local fire fighters had extinguished the fires.

“The successful efforts and quick thinking of the local firefighters resulted in the minimal loss of property, containing the fires to just the two homes. Their fast response definitely was a factor in saving lives,” said Maj. Randall Baucom, a spokesman for the 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. “They are proof that local governments in the villages in our area of operations are actually working hard to improve their emergency services.”

Baucom said the attack is just one more reason why the civilian population has turned its back on extremism.

“This incident is just another example that shows the extremists don’t care who they hurt when they launch their attacks,” he said. “By damaging the homes of innocent civilians, they are continuing to lose their ground and have become desperate. Through their desperate attempts, they will continue to lose support of the civilian population who are fed up with violence.”

“It’s these types of reckless acts by insurgents which will continue to undermine their ideology of hate and will continue furthering the momentum of local reconciliation efforts.”

There were no civilian or Coalition casualties from the rocket attack. Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces are currently investigating to find those responsible for destroying the homes.

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