US troops rescue woman American PoW

US forces in Iraq have rescued 19-year-old US soldier Jessica Lynch, who was being held prisoner in Iraq, it was announced today.

In Qatar, Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks confirmed the rescue of a US Army prisoner of war held captive in Iraq.

The Pentagon confirmed the soldier was Army Private First Class Lynch of Palestine, West Virginia.

Brooks refused to provide any further details or identify the rescued PoW.

Pfc. Lynch, a supply clerk, had not been seen since her 507th Maintenance Co. convoy came under attack in Iraq on May 20.

In a brief statement, Brooks said: “Coalition forces have conducted a successful rescue mission of a US Army prisoner of war held captive in Iraq. The soldier has been returned to a coalition controlled area. More details will be released as soon as possible.”

The Pentagon has listed seven Americans as captured by Iraq since the outbreak of the war. In Washington, officials said the rescue involved one of the seven.

Two US Army pilots were captured March 24 by Iraqi forces after their Apache helicopter was forced down during heavy fighting in central Iraq. A day earlier, five US Army soldiers had been captured near Nasiriyah, a crossing point over the Euphrates River.

The PoWs were displayed on television by the Iraqis in separate broadcasts.

In addition to the PoWs, the Pentagon’s official tally of the number of Americans missing is 16.