2004 Forward Operating Base Marez bombing

2004 Islamist attack on a US base in Mosul, Iraq 36.302433 43.122342 title September 2026 Attack on Forward Operating Base Marez Mosul, Iraq Forward Operating Base Marez 2004 12 21 Iraqi insurgency (2003–2006) in Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011) suicide bombing 14 U.S. soldiers 4 U.S. civilians 4 Iraqi soldiers 72 (including 51 U.S. soldiers) Army of Ansar al-Sunna Occupation of Iraq The Forward Operating Base Marez bombing took place on December 21, 2004. Fourteen U.S. soldiers, four U.S. citizen Halliburton employees, and four Iraqi soldiers allied with the U.S. military were killed by a suicide bomber in a dining hall at the Forward Operating Base next to the main U.S. military airfield at Mosul.Redmon Jeremy 2020-12-02 The inside story of the deadliest attack on a U.S. military base during the Iraq War https://taskandpurpose.com/history/iraq-war-fob-marez-bombing/ 2023-05-10 Task & Purpose en-US 2023-03-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20230315094844/https://taskandpurpose.com/history/iraq-war-fob-marez-bombing/ live Pentagon report The Pentagon reported that 72 other personnel were injured in the attack carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest and the uniform of the Iraqi security services. The Islamist insurgent group Army of Ansar al-Sunna (partly evolved from Ansar al-Islam) released an internet message taking credit for the attack.Fleishman Jeffrey 2005-01-28 Displaced Militants Adapt, Widen Their Scope https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-28-fg-ansar28-story.html 2023-05-10 Los Angeles Times en-US 2021-09-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20210912005308/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-28-fg-ansar28-story.html live The bomber entered the mess tent and approached a large group of U.S. soldiers, detonating himself and killing 22 people. It was the single deadliest suicide attack against the US military in Iraq. After attack Weeks before the attack, soldiers from the base intercepted a document that mentioned a proposal for a massive "Beirut"-type attack on U.S. forces.U.S. Military Had Warning of Planned Mosul Attack https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=352705&page=1 2023-05-10 ABC News en 2023-02-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20230215020505/https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=352705&page=1 live The reference was apparently to the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing in which 241 U.S. service members were killed. Following the discovery of the papers, commanders at the base — which is about 3 mi km in 0 south of Mosul and is used by both U.S. troops and the interim Iraqi National Guard forces — ratcheted up already tight security. Ansar al-Sunnah said the suicide bomber was a 24-year-old man from Mosul who worked at the base for two months and had provided information about the base to the group. The AP reported that the bomber was a twenty-year-old medical student from Saudi Arabia.Archives L. A. Times 2005-01-04 Bomber of Mess Hall Was Reportedly Saudi https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-04-fg-bomber4-story.html 2023-05-10 Los Angeles Times en-US 2023-02-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20230206074811/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-04-fg-bomber4-story.html live A US Army report identified a different Saudi national as the suicide bomber and said he got help from Iraqi troops working at the base. The dead Fallen soldiers from 133rd Engineer Battalion (Maine); Sergeant Thomas Dostie of Somerville, Maine, Sergeant Lynn R. Poulin Sr. of Freedom, Maine Fallen soldier from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment "Bobcats", Ft Lewis, WA); SSG Julian S. Melo Fallen soldiers from Deuce Four Infantry (1/24- Ft Lewis, WA); CPT William Jacobsen, SSG Robert Johnson, SPC Johnathon Castro, PFC Lionel Ayro Fallen Soldiers from C276 Eng (Virginia National Guard, West Point, VA); Sgt Nick Mason, Sgt David Ruhren Fallen Soldier from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment; SSG Darren Vankomen Fallen Sailor from NMCB-7; Chief Petty Officer Joel Baldwin Fallen Soldier from US Army Intelligence and Security Command, Sergeant Major Robert Daniel Odellhttps://t2t.org/gold_star_family/robert-daniel-odell/ Robert Daniel Odell Fallen Soldier from 705th Ordnance Company; Specialist Cory Hewitt Fallen Soldier from 2nd Battalion, 390th Infantry Regiment SFC; Paul Karpowich Iraqi Army Chief Warrant Officer Majdee Yousef Aziz, Iraqi Army 1st Lt. Mushtag Satar Jabar, Iraqi Army Sgt. Ahmad Hashem Mahdi, Iraqi National Guardsman Sherzad Kamo Bro See also Battle of Mosul - Iraq War Iraq War References External links Deadly Attack on U.S. Military Base Fox News "A Few Unforeseen Things", by Elliott Woods, Virginia Quarterly Review, Fall 2008. Video interviews with the families and comrades of two victims of the attack. Category:Bombings in the Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011) Category:2004 murders in Iraq Category:Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2004 Category:December 2004 in Iraq Category:December 2004 crimes in Asia Category:2004 building bombings Category:Suicide bombings in 2004 Category:Building bombings in Iraq Category:Suicide bombings in Iraq Category:2004 mass murders Category:Mosul in the Iraq War Category:Improvised explosive device bombings in Mosul Category:Attacks on military installations in 2004 Category:Attacks on military installations in Iraq Category:Mass murders in Mosul