Insurgents Using New Homemade Rocket Weapon in Iraq

PENTAGON --- U.S. commanders in Iraq are concerned that Shiite insurgents are using a new type of high-powered homemade weapon that uses rockets made in Iran and elsewhere. In the most recent attack, on Tuesday in northeastern Baghdad, an Iraqi soldier and a U.S. soldier were wounded.>> The U.S. military calls the weapons Improvised Rocket-Assisted Munitions (IRAM). They are propane gas tanks loaded with explosives and lashed to rockets. Several IRAMs can be packed in the back of an open truck, and launched by remote control.>> One report refers to them as flying roadside bombs, a reference to another relatively crude but highly effective insurgent weapon that has been the leading cause of death among U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq.>> "It does concern us," said Major General Michael Oates. "It is a home-made, multiple-launch rocket system. And it is very dangerous.">> Major General Michael Oates is commander of U.S. and coalition forces in central Iraq, south of Baghdad. He is concerned even though he has not seen any IRAMs in his area. The new weapons have so far only been found in Baghdad, where the U.S. military says they have been used by Shiite militias affiliated with Iran, and often powered by Iranian-made rockets.>> But Major General Oates says he does not know for sure whether Iran is providing the material, technology or training for the IRAMs.>> "I'm not prepared to state that it's Iranian-made or Iranian-influenced," he added. "I don't have any information that would lead me to believe that. It is an improvised explosive, therefore it's not manufactured the way it is employed. So, somebody is having to train someone to modify this weapon system. Where that training is coming from, I just don't know the specifics on right now.