Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, October 20, 2002
US Special Forces Train to Seize Iraqi Weapons Site
About 1,500 US Special Forces are already training in Jordan for possible covert missions to undercut Iraq's potential to use weapons of mass destruction in the opening hours of any military action, CNN reported Saturday.
About 1,500 US Special Forces are already training in Jordan for possible covert missions to undercut Iraq's potential to use weapons of mass destruction in the opening hours of any military action, CNN reported Saturday.
Should the United States take military action against Iraq, commandos would be inserted behind enemy lines to attempt to seize Iraq's suspected chemical, biological and nuclear weapons sites, senior US officials said.
One of the most crucial missions for the U.S. forces would be to destroy the dozens of Scud missiles that the United States believes Iraq may be hiding.
The officials said that if Special Forces troops quickly destroy the weapons sites and Scud launchers, they will then turn their attention to covert action to disrupt activity inside Iraq, including cutting off power, blocking roads and sabotaging equipment.
During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Iraq launched more than three dozen Scuds, aiming at targets in Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The United States has renewed promises to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Persian Gulf allies that the United States will seek to protect them from Iraqi missile attacks, using satellite surveillance and Patriot missile batteries that will be sent into the region.