Iraq Airport

 

Lat = 33 degrees, 13.4 minutes North

Long = 43 degrees, 40.8 minutes East

 

Friday 18th March 1988

 

After the meeting with Mozafari, Ali Hussein had made a number of phone calls to arrange for the men he had selected to meet him at Iraq’s airport, they were all within a couple of hour’s flight time away. There was no need to hang around and possibly draw attention to himself, from the security forces.

At the airport he made another phone call to Mozafari airfreight division. They had been expecting the call, he was asked to wait at the airport and someone would come over and collect him and escort him over to the hanger.

Ten minutes later a man came over to him; it was Ahmed Abdullah, whom he had met before. Hussein followed him out through the airport, as they passed a security check point, Ahmed said, “he is with me, Mr. Mozafari has cleared it with your superiors.”

The two security guards waved them through.

Outside a small car was waiting, “Jump in,” Ahmed said.

They drove across the airport and arrived at a hanger with three aircraft inside. “This will be the aircraft taking you in.” Ahmed pointed to a Cessna caravan and then invited him into the office.

 

“Give me the names of the other passengers and I will ensure they clear security, with the minimum of fuss.

Hussein went to the desk, picked up a note pad and wrote the fifteen names down from memory, including the departure airports alongside each name.

“You will find weapons, clothing and supplies in the usual storeroom out back, select what you require, complete the usual inventory form and file it with the clerk in the next office.”

Ali Hussein walked into the storeroom, which he had visited on previous occasions.

There was an assortment of military combat vests, AK-74 assault rifles, clips of ammunition, as well as F1 grenades, Ali picked up an Ak-47, they were in good condition, and he checked the breach mechanism, no apparent wear.

He then picked up a combat vest, tried it on good fit he thought, he began to load the pockets of the vest with eight magazines, and each clip held thirty rounds of 5.45 caliber. Ali added four F1 grenades clipping them onto the vest; he picked up a nearby water bottle and first aid medi kit, after filling the bottle with water he placed it along with the medi kit in the two spare pouches of the vest.

Over on nearby shelving units were combat boots in assorted sizes all had been worn before but were in a good state of repair, he picked up a size nine.

Next to the shelves were pigeonholes with assorted military style outdoor clothing; Ali selected some trouser and a warm jacket.

The final item, a length of cloth to create a turban head dress.

Now all I have to do is wait for the men to arrive, he thought to himself.