Iraqi Military Foiled Rocket Attack, Seized Booby-Trapped Vehicle Near Border With Syria (Photos, Video)

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On June 17, the Iraqi intelligence and military foiled a rocket attack on an unknown target near the border line with Syria.

A booby-trapped pickup truck disguised as a military vehicle was seized by a joint force of the Iraqi military’s 15^th Division near the area of Alalkana in the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh. Aboard the truck, five Grad 122 mm rockets and launch rails were found.

Several gunmen fled the vehicle when it was first spotted by Iraqi forces. All of them managed to escape thanks to the region’s rough terrain. The pickup and the rockets were destroyed by military engineers.

In a statement, the Iraqi Directorate of Military Intelligence said that the booby-trapped pickup truck was prepared to self-destruct after firing the rockets. A second vehicle was waiting nearby to pick up the attackers.

The target of the failed attack has not been revealed, yet. Usually, pro-Iranian forces launch rockets at bases hosting US troops in Iraq. However, the target in this case may have been one of the US bases in northeastern Syria.

In the last few weeks, a number of similar attacks were foiled. On June 11, four 107 mm rockets were seized by Iraqi security forces in the area of al-Zanbur in the northern province of Diyala. The rockets were prepared to target Balad Air Base where US forces are known to be deployed.

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