Intelligence tip helped in the rescue of US army private

AN intelligence tip helped special operations forces identify Army Private First Class Jessica Lynch, aged 19, as being held

Lynch had been listed as missing since March 23, when her maintenance convoy made a wrong turn and came under attack from Iraqi forces.

But her status was changed to prisoner of war just hours, or days, before she was rescued, as special operations forces mapped out a plan to raid the Saddam Hospital in Nasiriyah, where Lynch was being held, officials said.

The defence officials said the details of the rescue plan were kept secret from all but a handful of top military officials and the Delta Force carrying out the rescue.

US officials gave no details on how exactly US forces learned of Lynch’s whereabouts, but said tips from local citizens were often helpful in such situations.

The case illustrated a new way of fighting using “more flexibly”, with troops more able to respond to intelligence data such as the discovery of a US prisoner of war, said one official.

MSNBC reporter Kerry Sanders, travelling with US troops, said US forces found a bloodied US uniform when they seized another hospital in Nasiriyah several days ago and were later able to confirm it belonged to a female soldier.

They also learned the soldier was shot in the leg, he said.

Lynch was one of 15 soldiers listed missing, captured or killed when Iraqi forces ambushed a 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company convoy.

Capt Jay La Rossa, spokesman for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said special forces also found the bodies of two US soldiers and eight Iraqis.