Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD1268
2007-04-12 11:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
TERRORISTS SEEK NEW STRATEGIC TARGETS
how-toVZCZCXRO2578 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #1268 1021154 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121154Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0704 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0705 RUEHFR/USMISSION UNESCO PRIORITY 0001 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001268
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: TERRORISTS SEEK NEW STRATEGIC TARGETS
Classified By: A/POL-MIL COUNSELOR APAR SIDHU FOR REASONS 1.4 (A/B/D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001268
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: TERRORISTS SEEK NEW STRATEGIC TARGETS
Classified By: A/POL-MIL COUNSELOR APAR SIDHU FOR REASONS 1.4 (A/B/D)
1.(C) On April 12, Insurgents used a large tanker
truck full of explosives to disable the Sarafiya
bridge, one of twelve bridges spanning the Tigris
to link Baghdad's Karkh and Rusafa districts.
We have only confirmed the death of one Iraqi
civilian in the bombing, which took
place around 0700, before morning traffic reached
its peak. The destroyed bridge connects
Karkh to the Al Tib neighborhood of Rusafa, which adjoins
the Sheikh Umar area where fierce fighting against
Sunni insurgents took place on April 10.
2. (C) As we work to better protect the Iraqi public
by hardening markets and creating gated communities,
the enemy seems determined to identity other more
vulnerable targets. The Sarafiya bridge
would seem to be a key strategic target for the enemy,
as it was one of only twelve bridges connecting
the east and west Baghdad. It appears the enemy was
not focused on killing civilians but on
destroying key infrastructure to demonstrate its
stealth and power despite the Baghdad security crackdown.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: TERRORISTS SEEK NEW STRATEGIC TARGETS
Classified By: A/POL-MIL COUNSELOR APAR SIDHU FOR REASONS 1.4 (A/B/D)
1.(C) On April 12, Insurgents used a large tanker
truck full of explosives to disable the Sarafiya
bridge, one of twelve bridges spanning the Tigris
to link Baghdad's Karkh and Rusafa districts.
We have only confirmed the death of one Iraqi
civilian in the bombing, which took
place around 0700, before morning traffic reached
its peak. The destroyed bridge connects
Karkh to the Al Tib neighborhood of Rusafa, which adjoins
the Sheikh Umar area where fierce fighting against
Sunni insurgents took place on April 10.
2. (C) As we work to better protect the Iraqi public
by hardening markets and creating gated communities,
the enemy seems determined to identity other more
vulnerable targets. The Sarafiya bridge
would seem to be a key strategic target for the enemy,
as it was one of only twelve bridges connecting
the east and west Baghdad. It appears the enemy was
not focused on killing civilians but on
destroying key infrastructure to demonstrate its
stealth and power despite the Baghdad security crackdown.
CROCKER