A TEARFUL dad is today praying for the safe return of his two soldier sons as they went in to battle against Iraq.
Suliman Elhasham, of Devonshire Street, Accrington, said he was unable to sleep as he was so worried about his sons Thomas and Jason, who were in the midst of the conflict as war broke out this morning.
The brothers, both former pupils at Accrington Moorhead High School, have been staying at Army camps in the Middle East since mid-February.
Thomas, 18, is now believed to be in Kuwait where troops were put on alert after artillery shell explosions were heard yesterday morning. It is reported they were also ordered to put on gas masks.
Jason, 23, is on the front line on the Iraqi border where there were reports of artillery fire.
Speaking to the Observer just hours after the first attack on Iraq, a distraught Suliman said: "I have been watching the news all night, I can't sleep. I spoke to Jason for the last time ... no more letters, no telephone calls, nothing to be sent or received until further notice. I am frightened as Jason is on the border. He will be going into action.''
"Thomas is only 18 and this is the first place they have sent him. I am upset but he is just doing his job - this is what he has been trained to do. I am so worried as Thomas is so young and Jason is on the front line, but I am very proud of them both. It will be a wonderful moment when they come home - I'm just praying that they come back safely."
For more on this story, see Friday's Observer
