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By Salem Arif

September 10, 2005

Original Article (English)

An Iraqi Soldier on Patrol

After weeks of heavy bombardment and sporadic skirmishes, U.S. troops stormed Tal Affar early on Saturday in the latest U.S. attack on a city in the so-called Sunni triangle. The attackers are mostly U.S. Marines advancing into the Sarai, the old part of Tal Affar, which is a warren of old shops and houses.

The onslaught is described as a “joint U.S./Iraqi” operation, but Iraqi soldiers are too few to spot among the thousands of Marines who say they are determined to retake the city.

The Marines are advancing from directions, allowing civilians to leave while blocking any entry. But not everyone is allowed to leave. The soldiers see all men able to carry weapons as suspects and many of those attempting to flee have been arrested.

In terms of firepower, the fighting is reminiscent of the U.S. bid to retake Falluja last year. The troops resort to shelling by heavy artillery and air bombardment before moving in where they suspect an insurgent may be holding out.

Tal Affar is a flat city with mainly one or two-story homes and no high-rises. Modern dwellings are made of cement, but those in old neighborhoods, the site of fiercest shelling, are built of traditional stone and gypsum.

The “Qala” or citadel, located in an older quarter, is one of Iraq’s most treasured ancient structures.

The Marines are barging into residential quarters, and breaking down the doors and windows of mostly empty homes.

The insurgents will put up a fight but it will be nothing like the sort of resistance U.S. troops faced in Falluja. However, the use of firepower is just as intense, and will certainly cause tremendous damage and casualties.

The government has already warned Tal Affar of heavy damage. But at the same time it has promised “serious and fair” compensation.

“We are committed to extending humanitarian assistance in cooperation with the various Iraqi ministries and humanitarian organizations.  In addition we seek to compensate those affected in a serious and fair manner,” said a statement by the government.

The Aftermath of an Encounter At a Tal Affar Checkpoint in January. 'Another Mistake.'

Since the fall of Baghdad to U.S. troops in 2003, promises of compensation have always accompanied ongoing military operations. But the country’s cash-strapped government now finds it almost impossible to cover compensation claims in the aftermath of the repeated U.S. onslaughts on Iraqi towns.

Last year as well, U.S. troops attacked Tal Affar amid government promises of compensation to those affected. Inhabitants say the promises have proven empty, and that nothing has been done by U.S. or Iraqi authorities to pay for or repair the damage.

Iraqi ministries are still scrambling to raise the cash to meet compensation claims from Najaf, Sadr City, Falluja, Ramadi, Haditha, Qaim, Samarra and many other towns and cities attacked and stormed by U.S. troops over the past two years.

The city of Tal Affar will need a long time to recover once U.S. troops pacify its streets. And it will take much longer than that for its inhabitants to see obtain assistance in a country where the level of corruption is reported to be among the highest in the world.

The head of the Iraqi Red Crescent in the city, Dr. Mohamemd Qassem, said over 90% of Tal Affar residents have fled. “We are committed to have them return to the city,” said the government statement. Dr. Qassem said: “We have detected 170 cases of people suffering from the impact of a curious poison which could be the result of inhaling gases. We are also aware of civilians being wounded of falling debris, the result of U.S. shelling and collapse of their homes.”

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