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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Fallujah Lives Under Capricious Rule of Different Mujahidin Groups |
| 2004-10-12 |
| From Jihad Unspun, an article by Ahmed Mukhtar .... US forces conducted numerous air strikes against what they described as targets associated with Al-Zarqawi's network in and around the city. Among them was Zouba, a housing compound in an agricultural area about 15 miles south of Falluja where the US military said as many as 90 foreign fighters were holding meetings. The military said the strike, which occurred on Thursday evening, killed about 60 foreign fighters. Witnesses and hospital officials disputed the account, saying that about 30 men were killed, many of them Iraqi. They said 15 children and 11 women also died in the attack. Neither versions of the strike could be independently verified. Falluja residents refer to the militants as mujahidin, and they never associate them with either Al-Qaeda or Al- Zarqawi. Mohamed Gharib, 25 years and resident of Falluja believes that "the Americans made up the bogeyman to kill the religious people of Falluja." His view was shared by Muath Khalid, a 27-year-old history student. "Falluja people were defending their dignity and Islam", he said. "They don't need the assistance of Al-Zarqawi that is if he existed at all." Five months after US Marines called off their attack on Falluja, citizens of the town live under the often capricious rule of different groups of mujahidin -- ranging from Islamists and ultra-Islamists to Baathists and outlaws. The Mujahidin Shura Council, an 18-member group of clerics, tribal leaders or sheikhs and former Baath Party members now effectively run the city. Divided ideologically, the various religious groups argue over issues ranging from the proper way to finance their respective movements to the treatment of foreign and Iraqi captives. Nonetheless, residents say the groups are united on the battlefield and would fight side by side if US or Iraqi government troops were to launch a new push into Falluja -- a move that some believe likely because of the recent round of air and artillery strikes and especially after the large assault against Samaraa, 60kms north of Baghdad, another Sunni rebel town. |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |