File: 970613_23400458_91d_txt_0001.txt
Page: 0001
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[b.2.] SERIAL: (U) IIR 2 340 0458 91. COUNTRY: (U) IRAQ (IZ). SUBJECT: IIR 2 340 0458 91/CHEMICAL MINES (U). WARNING: (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE. - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DOI: (U) 900700. [b.2.] [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)] SUMMARY:
CHEMICAL MINEFIELDS--IRAQIS SOMETIMES EMPLOYED CHEMICAL MINEFIELDS IN FRONT OF THEIR DEFENSIVE LINES TO BE DETONATED BY ARTILLERY ROUNDS AS A SURPRISE AGAINST AN ENEMY ATTACK.
1. CHEMICAL MINEFIELDS--IRAQIS SOMETIMES EMPLOYED CHEMICAL MINEFIELDS IN FRONT OF THEIR DEFENSIVE LINES TO BE DETONATED AS A SURPRISE AGAINST AN ENEMY ATTACK. DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS, SPECIAL ENGINEERS WOULD BURY CHEMICAL MINES (IN ARABIC--LUGMI GHAZIN SAMIN) TO CREATE A CHEMICAL MINEFIELD. BY EMPLACING THE MINES AT NIGHT, NEITHER THE ENEMY NOR DEFENDING IRAQI SOLIDERS WOULD BE AWARE THAT A CHEMICAL MINEFIELD HAD BEEN EMPLACED. [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)] --THIS WAS DONE TO SURPRISE BOTH THE ENEMY AND THE DEFENDERS AND TO PREVENT THE INFORMATION FROM LEAKINGOUT. FRIENDLY UNITS IN THE VICINITY OF THE CHEMICAL MINEFIELDS WERE NOT WARNED AND WERE OFTEN EXPOSED TO THE CHEMICALS.) CHEMICAL MINES USED TO ESTABLISH THE MINEFIELDS WERE YELLOWISH-GREEN CANISTERS MADE DF A THIN ALUMINUM. THE CANISTERS WERE CYLINDER-SHAPED, APPROXIMATELY TEN INCHES IN DIAMETER WITH A HEIGHT OF EIGHT INCHES. [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)] --MINES COULD BE DETONATEO BY ARTILLERY FIRE OR BY ENEMY ARMOR VEHICLES DRIVING OVER THE MINES. [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)] NEVER OBSERVED VEHICLES BEING USED TO DETONATE OR BREAK THEMINES.)�PATTERN OF A CHEMICAL MINEFIELD, OR THE TYPE CHEMICAL AGENT USED.)
2. USE OF CHEMICAL MINEFIELDS--CHEMICAL MINEFIELDS WERE DEPLOYED WHEN INTELLIGENCE INOICATED THAT A MAJOR ATTACK WOULD OCCUR AT A CERTAIN LOCATION, OR PASS THROUGH ACERTAIN LOCATION. CHEMICAL MINEFIELDS COULD BE DETONATED BY USE OF A FRIENDLY ARTILLERY FIRE OR ENEMY ARMORED MOVEMENT THROUGH THE MINEFIELD. FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR, IN 1982, AT THE BATTLE OF BASRA, [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)] RECEIVED A FIRE MISSION FROM THE BATTALION FIRE DIRECTION CENTER (IN ARABIC--MURSHID). [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)] OBSERVEO THAT THE ROUNDS FELL DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE IRAQI DEFENSIVE POSITIONS IN A MINEFIELD. (FLD CMT--AFTER THE ARTILLERY ROUNDS IMPACTED AND THE MINES DETONATED, [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)] OBSERVED ANUNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER OF ENEMY CASUALTCES WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS [b.1. sec.1.5.(c)] EXPERIENCED IN A PRIOR CHEMICAL ATTACK. SYMPTOMS ARE DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 3.) [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)] HEARD FROM OTHER IRAQI SOLDIERS ON THE FRONT LINE THAT THE LARGE AMOUNT OF CASUALTIES HAD BEEN CAUSED BY THE CHEMICAL MINEFIELD BEING SET OFF BY THE ARTILLERY FIRE.)
3. SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE TO CHEMICAL AGENT--THE SYMPTOMS [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)] AS A RESULT OF EXPOSURE TO CHEMICAL AGENTS ARE THE FOLLOWING-- [b.1.] CHEST WAS CONSTRICTED EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICLUTY IN BREATHING. [b.1.] IS STILL EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING.) BODY SWELLED ESPECIALLY HEAD AND LIMBS, AND THE EYES BULGED. [b.1.] BLACK AND BLUE BLISTERS ON HIS SKIN. [b.1.] VOMITED A THIN GLUEY LIQUID, AND A MILKY WAX-LIKE LIQUID DISCHARGED FROM THE EARS. [b.1.] OBSERVED IRANIAN VICTIMS BEYQND THE POINT OF MEDICAL HELP WITH EXTREME SWELLING OF THE HEAD AND WITH EYES PROTRUDING FROM THE SKULL.) [b.1.] WAS EVACUATED TO A MILITARY HOSPITAL AND PROVIDED WITH AN UNIDENTIFIED ANTIDOTE INJECTION. HE WAS TOLD TO VOMIT AND WHEN HE COULD NOT WAS GIVEN AN UNIDENTIFIED JUICE TO INDUCE VOMITTING AND CLEAN OUT THE STOMACH. OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS [b.1.] GIVEN BUTTERMILK (IN ARABIC--LABAN) TO FURTHER CLEANSE THE STOMACH. [b.1.] TOLD THAT IF THE STOMACH WAS NOT CLEARED OF THE AGENT WITHIN 24 HOURS, THERE WOULD BE TOO MUCH CHEMICAL AGENT IN HIS SYSTEM AND HE WOULD DIE. (FLD CMT-- [b.1.] EXPOSED TO THE CHEMICAL AGENT DURING THE MINEFIELD DETONATION AT BASRA BUT IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT WHEN AND IRAQI RAJIMAT ROCKET FELL SHORT AND LANDED NEAR [b.1.]AL-AHMARA, AND GAS SEEPED OUT OF THE ROCKET. THE ROCKET DID NOT EXPLODE.) [b.2.]
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