Location: 80 km WNW of Baghdad, near Fallujah

Short Descriptor: BW missile warhead deployment/storage

Details:

Iraq states that some 15 Al-Hussein warheads filled with biological agent were stored/deployed at this location. According to the Iraqis, the choice of the site was made by Muthana State Establishment (warhead filling site) and Unit 224 (Al Hussein force) because of its proximity to 224 headquarters (30-minute drive) and its "concealment" properties. Two days prior to the actual movement of the warheads, a team from the First Missile Maintenance Unit constructed about 20, one meter-deep pits spaced ten meters apart. Iraq states that not every pit was used for fear of a possible air attack destroying all the warheads in one strike. Warheads were placed in the pits, covered with tarps secured by sandbags, and covered with sand; the entire operation took approximately two hours. A tent was erected for 15-20 guard troops, although no telephone or radio communications links were established. Every day, a member of the guard force traveled to Unit 224 headquarters at Taji to get his orders. [Note: Unit 224 had field headquarters during the war.] In addition, a Technical Research Center (TRC) representative traveled to the site every two-three days to check on the condition of the warheads.

Other Information:
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	Updated February 2006