Dutch soldiers injured in attack in Iraq

28 May 2004

AMSTERDAM — A Dutch patrol in Iraq came under fire on Friday morning, injuring three soldiers. Two of the wounded were airlifted by helicopter to the hospital at Camp Smitty in the southern city As Samawah.

The vehicle in which the troops were travelling in was not hit in the attack, but it swerved from the road, resulting in the troops’ injuries. The Dutch were on patrol between As Samawah and Al Khidr.

The culprits have not been identified and no arrests have been made. An investigation has been launched into the incident, Dutch news service NOS reported.

Dutch peacekeeping troops in Iraq have frequently come under attack in recent weeks. Bases have been the targets of attacks with various explosives and Sergeant Dave Steensma was killed in a hand grenade attack on 10 May.

The Cabinet is currently considering whether to extend the peacekeeping mission until after the 30 June transfer of power to Iraqi authorities. There are about 1,300 Dutch troops stationed in the south of Iraq.

And amid the growing security concerns, Defence Minister Henk Kamp recently decided to deploy six Apache combat helicopters to the Dutch patrol region, three of which departed earlier this week. The other three will be deployed shortly.

Subject: Dutch news