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| Iraq-Jordan | |
| Fighting Persists for Seventh Day in Najaf, | |
| 2004-08-11 | |
| EFL: Insurgents fired mortar shells at U.S. forces moving into Najaf's vast cemetery and American jets roared overhead Wednesday, as the radical Shiite cleric leading the fight against coalition forces urged his followers to battle on even if he is killed. The U.S. military said U.S. and Iraqi security forces in Najaf were preparing to launch a major assault against the Mahdi Army militia loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. "Iraqi and U.S. forces are making final preparations as we get ready to finish this fight that the Muqtada militia started," said Col. Anthony M. Haslam, commanding officer of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. It was unclear whether that assault would involve raiding Najaf's holiest site, the Imam Ali Shrine, which would infuriate Iraq's Shiite majority. The military says the insurgents are using the golden-domed shrine in Najaf's old city as a refuge and the governor had given U.S. forces permission to raid it. Iraqi police set up checkpoints that cut Najaf in two as U.S. troops skirmished with Mahdi Army fighters near the shrine in the seventh day of fighting in the city. Gunbattles between militants and coalition forces in two other southern cities killed 18 people. In Najaf, militiamen were once again firing on U.S. troops from a building just 400 yards from the Imam Ali Shrine. On Tuesday, U.S. helicopter gunships pummeled the multistory hotel with rockets, missiles and 30 mm cannons, killing 20 people, the military said, in one of the closest strikes yet to the shrine. "We keep pushing south and they just keep coming," said Capt. Patrick McFall, from the 1st Cavalry Division. Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Iraq's interim vice president, called on the U.S. troops to withdraw from Najaf. "Only Iraqi forces should stay in Najaf, these forces should be responsible for security and should save Najaf from this phenomenon of killing," al-Jaafari told Arab TV network Al-Jazeera from London on Wednesday. Coalition forces said they were operating in the city at the request of the government. Sporadic explosions could be heard elsewhere in the city. U.S. Marine Maj. David Holahan said Mahdi Army militants attacked three police stations Tuesday, two with small arms fire, one with eight mortar rounds. "We've pretty much just been patrolling and flying helicopters all over the place, and when we see something bad, we blow it up," said Holahan, executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines Regiment. "I hope that you keep fighting even if you see me
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| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 "Iraqi and U.S. forces are making final preparations as we get ready to finish this fight that the Muqtada militia started." Preparing the battlefield, damn I like that! Cool professionals. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-08-11 12:47 |
| #1 and when we see something bad, we blow it up," said Holahan, executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines Regiment As far as Rules of Engagement go - I like this alot! |
| Posted by: Doc8404 2004-08-11 11:31 |