Rocket Targets U.S. Ship in Jordan

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 19, 2005

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) -- Two missiles were fired from Jordan early Friday, at a U.S. Navy ship docked in a Jordanian port and at a nearby airport in neighboring Israel, officials said. No casualties were reported in either attack.

The U.S. Navy said a mortar was fired at an American ship docked in Jordan's port of Aqaba.

Israeli police and witnesses said a Katyusha rocket fired from Jordan fell on the outskirts of the nearby airport of Israel's Red Sea resort of Eilat, but did not explode.

Aqaba and Eilat are about 10 miles apart and located on either side of the Jordan-Israeli border at the northern end of the Red Sea close to the Sinai Peninsula.

The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet based in Bahrain confirmed that a mortar was fired from Jordan at one of its ships docked in the seaport of Aqaba, missing the vessel but slamming into a warehouse on a dock.

"At approximately 8:44 a.m. local time a suspected mortar rocket flew over the USS Ashland over the bow and impacted a warehouse on the pier in the vicinity of the Ashland and the USS Kearsarge, which were in port," said Lt. Cdr. Charlie Brown of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain.

"The warehouse sustained an approximate 8 foot hole in the roof of the building and no sailors or Marines were injured in the attack," Brown told The Associated Press, adding that the missile was filed from land.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, speaking in southern Israel, said the attacks were "intended to hit the Israeli side and the Jordanian side as well."

"We still don't know who is behind this act but I'm sure the Jordanians will do all they can to prevent such attacks in the future as in the past," Mofaz said, adding Israeli authorities are in contact with Jordanians over the incidents.

The rocket fired into Israel created a small crater in the road, about 15 yards from the Eilat airport fence, said a local police commander, Avi Azulin. The commander said the rocket was fired from nearby Jordan.

A taxi driver, who passed on the road just as the rocket fell, was lightly injured. However, the rocket did not hit his car, witnesses said.

U.S. frigates, apparently part of routine exercises with the Jordanian army, were seen docked at the mouth of the Red Sea port earlier this week.

Bastards.

Wish they had some counter-fire batteries ready for use when that happened.

crazy

Another incompetent fighter from the Religion of Peace misses his target and kills a Muslim soldier guarding Jordanian territory!  Bwa ha ha ha ha!  Those cargo/supply ships are huge and the mortar missed their target. The Israeli taxi got away, too! Looks like Allah protects Americans and Israelis.

Lt. Cdr. Charlie Brown
I don't want to laugh, since he's insuring I can sit on my ass and be safe, yet at the same time.....

For what it's worth, I checked CNN, FOX, CBS, ABC and NBC for this story.

The only one that did not use ther term 'rocket' and 'mortor' interchangably is NBC

Ed

Mahmoud:  Ahmed, you fucktard!  Only you could fire a missle at a frigate and hit Jordan.
Ahmed:  But Mahmoud, it was a katusha!

Quoted: Mahmoud:  Ahmed, you fucktard!  Only you could fire a missle at a frigate and hit Jordan. Ahmed:  But Mahmoud, it was a katusha!