US consulate hotel hit by mortar shell in Iraq (in Hillah)

[Barrett808]

A mortar shell hit an hotel where the US consulate is based in Hillah, Iraq, but no casualties were immediately reported, police said.

The shell was one of five fired at the Babil Hotel complex at about 2.30am local time, with four of them exploding nearby and one hitting the three-storey building and causing some damage, said Capt. Muthana Khalid, spokesman for Hillah police.

In Baghdad, US Embassy spokeswoman Vicki Stein confirmed the attack, but she had different information about how many mortars were fired and where they landed. “One round impacted in the vicinity of the regional embassy office compound in Hillah. There were no casualties or injuries, and an investigation is being conducted,” she said.

Hillah is about 60 miles south of Baghdad. The mostly Shiite city has been the site of deadly attacks by Sunni-led insurgent groups.

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=158616314&p=y586y7xzx

[swimboy]

1. Oh, God. It really makes your heart race when you have family in Iraq.

:scared:

I also recognize that there are many Iraqi families in Iraq that feel fear every day.

[xultar]

2. Stay the course...Move along there's nothing to see here pay no attention

to the blown up building and body parts...move along

[Bonzo_Zepplin]

3. Huge Change In Iraq

"There is no way to sugar coat this. This is a major development. That we have made it public is also a big deal because every other military professional in the world knows we are done."
(Major General Rick Lynch)

This is Viet Nam, dejavu all over again!

Huge Change In Iraq:
http://www.uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=16517&s2=07

[newyawker99]

4. Hi Bonzo_Zepplin!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Bonzo_Zepplin]

5. Tanks Alot!

Nice to be accepted here at home!

Newyakwker Rocks!

[HuffleClaw]

6. some day

probably a few years from now the TRUE toll of this war will be known. they always lowball the death figures from incident X or Y. local media routinely report '15 us soldiers seen carried away covered with sheets', and western media will report, 'two killed, three wounded' and that is that. we already know how they've been 'creative' in counting the 'official' death toll, which is approaching the 2000 mark, but in reality, its probably about 5000 or so. at least. some day we'll know.