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| Iraq |
| Iraq Green Zone shelled amid sandstorm |
| 2008-04-28 |
| Suspected Shiite extremists hammered the U.S.-protected Green Zone Sunday in the fiercest salvo in weeks, apparently taking advantage of a sandstorm that blanketed the capital and grounded the American aircraft that normally prowl for launching teams. Thunderous explosions resounded throughout the evening as rockets or mortar shells slammed into the heavily fortified area in central Baghdad. Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, meanwhile, rejected terms set by the Iraqi government for lifting a crackdown against his Mahdi Army militia. Sirens wailed in the Green Zone, which houses the U.S. Embassy and much of the Iraqi government on the west side of the Tigris River. The public address system warned people to “duck and cover” and stay away from windows. The U.S. Embassy confirmed the area was hit by indirect fire, the military's term for rocket or mortar attacks, but said it had no immediate word on casualties. The Green Zone has been regularly shelled since fighting broke out over a U.S.-backed government crackdown against militias that began in late March. At least four Americans, including two soldiers, have been killed in the attacks. But the U.S. military has claimed success with operations that have effectively sealed off the southern section of Baghdad's Sadr City, a militia stronghold that is believed to be one of the prime launching sites for the Green Zone attacks. American commanders have blamed what they call Iranian-backed Shiite factions they say have broken with a cease-fire imposed by al-Sadr in late August. Al-Sadr's spokesman in the holy city of Najaf called the Shiite-led government's terms for stopping the crackdown against the militias “illogical.” Salah al-Obeidi accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, himself a Shiite, of wanting to resolve the problem by force instead of dialogue. Chief among al-Maliki's demands announced Friday were that the militias surrender heavy weapons and hand over all wanted people. Sporadic clashes also continued Sunday in Sadr City, a sprawling district in northeastern Baghdad with 2.5 million people. The U.S. military said five suspected militants were killed in three separate airstrikes late Saturday and early Sunday in the area. |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #2 I suppose counter-battery fire is out of the question - ROE and all that? |
| Posted by: Angavins Scourge of the Munchkins9583 2008-04-28 13:32 |
| #1 Send men. To summon. Wooooooooooooooooooooooooorrrrmmmssss!!!! |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2008-04-28 08:58 |