Michael Yon embedded with British forces near Basra during the month of April. Just posted is the Rattlesnake dispatch, covering a night mission against IED teams. Michael is today’s Ernie Pyle — don’t miss the dispatch or the support link. The closing of Operation Rattlesnake:
…On the two successive missions I rode with British forces, they killed roughly 40 enemy without suffering a scratch. But real strength is never tested when we win. Our next mission would not go as well.
During the next mission with British forces, we would drive through the largest cluster of IEDs I’ve ever personally encountered: 48 separate charges, set to explode. The cluster of 48 IEDs included 46 EFPs, any one of which could penetrate and destroy any tank in the world. (We’ve lost dozens of American tanks.)
When eight of the bombs exploded, vehicles trailing us were struck with tragic consequences. For the first time, I witnessed our British brothers experience the loss of comrades in combat, something I will share with readers in a dispatch called “Death or Honor.â€
Michael doesn’t discuss in any depth who is attacking the British near Basra. I’ll wildly speculate that it is Sadr’s rogue militia. Do any readers know?
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