Suspected Shiite extremists, apparently taking advantage of a sandstorm that blanketed the capital, attacked several checkpoints and hammered the U.S.-protected Green Zone in the fiercest salvo in weeks on Sunday. The sandstorm had grounded the American aircraft that normally prowl for launching teams.
The insurgents lobbed more rockets or mortar shells toward the Green Zone, housing the United States embassy and much of the Iraqi government on the west side of the Tigris River, on Monday morning. Alarms could be heard and the public address system in the area warned residents to take cover and stay away from windows.
The clashes on Sunday concentrated in Sadr City, the stronghold of the Mahdi Army, where American soldiers used Abrams main battle tanks to repel the attackers.
A little detail the bad guys forgot to account for.
The American and Iraqi soldiers came under attack "by a large group of criminals," the U.S. military said in a statement. Eight civilians were killed and 58 others were also injured in clashes in Sadr City since Sunday, local health officials said Monday.
On Sunday, the U.S. military had 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.
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. 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.
On Sunday, Al-Sadr's spokesman in the holy city of Najaf called the Shiite-led government's terms for ceasing 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.
Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, the Iraqi military spokesman for Baghdad operations, on Sunday said the government would maintain the crackdown.