Saturday, 08 July 2006
Good news - A small step
Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf

Iraqi, U.S. Forces strike at Sadr's Militia

The new Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has taken a step to fulfill the pledge to dismantle the militias, including Shiite run militias within his own governing coalition United Iraqi Alliance. An "Iraqi-planned, Iraqi-led and Iraqi-executed operation," supported by U.S. forces in an "overwatch role" made a foray in Sadr City in northeastern Baghdad (Tharwa on the map.) Nine of Moqtada al-Sadr's militiamen in his Madhi Army were killed, and thirty-one were wounded, according to the Iraqi Interior Ministry.

In a related article, but from a different perspective.

Baghdad buzzing with talk about "Shia Zarqawi"

Denials and conspiracy theories notwithstanding, a figurehead has emerged in connection with the Mehdi Army, who is able to wreak havoc while still affording Moqtada al-Sadr plausible deniability.

The recent increase in Shi'ite militia activity that the article describes begs the question of Iranian involvement.

Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on July 8, 2006 at 03:03 PM in Islamism Delenda Est, Zero Ponsdorf | Permalink

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