The deadly attack against the British patrol in southern Iraq was the greatest loss of life for Britain this year and came as the 15 British sailors illegally seized by Iran two weeks ago in Iraqi waters were returning home.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military reported eight U.S. soldiers were killed in the Baghdad area over the past three days in the ongoing security operation, now in its eighth week. An Army helicopter went down south of Baghdad, wounding four, after insurgents fired on it, an Iraqi official said. Iran is suspected of providing sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons as well as armor-piercing explosives that have killed hundreds of American soldiers.
Blair said yesterday, “Just as we rejoice at the return of our 15 service personnel so today we are also grieving and mourning for the loss of our soldiers in Basra, who were killed as the result of a terrorist act.”
The British patrol struck a roadside bomb and was hit by small-arms fire early yesterday in Basra. The explosion created a 9-foot crater in the road. Hours after the attack, a British soldier’s helmet was still lying in the street among dozens of spent bullets. A civilian interpreter also was killed and a fifth British soldier in the unit was seriously wounded.
Blair said Iranian-linked fighters may have sprung the ambush, although he conceded it was too early to directly accuse Tehran.
“Now it is far too early to say that the particular terrorist act that killed our forces was an act committed by terrorists that were backed by any elements of the Iranian regime, so I make no allegation,” he said. But he added, “This is maybe the right moment to reflect on our relationship with Iran.”