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| Iraq | |
| Bill Roggio: on 4th day of Mahdi Army Battle redux | |
| 2008-03-29 | |
| Several hundred Iraqis are reported to have been killed during the fighting since the operation began on March 25. A large majority of them are Mahdi Army fighters, according to the press reports. The US and Iraqi military have killed more than 70 Mahdi Army fighters in Shia neighborhood in Baghdad alone over the past three days. Basrah has been the scene of the majority of the fighting. Major General Ali Zaidan said that 120 Mahdi Army and other Shia terrorists have been killed since the fighting began, while another 450 have been wounded. Iraqi police said they have captured 218 "militiamen" since the start of the operation on March 25. But the Mahdi Army is said to be controlling some neighborhoods in Basrah, and the Iraqi Army is meeting stiff resistance when attempting to entry these neighborhood. US and Iraqi security forces killed 26 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad on March 26. Another 42 Mahdi Army fighters were killed in a series of battles throughout Baghdad on March 27. Eight of the Mahdi Army fighters were killed after they attempted to overtake an Iraqi Army checkpoint. The Iraqi soldiers beat off the attack, losing one soldier in action. The Times Online claimed the Iraqi Army and police have abandoned checkpoints in Baghdad, but the US military denied the Mahdi Army is in control of police and Army checkpoints in Baghdad. Heavy fighting has been reported in Al Kut, one of the main hubs of Special Groups activities in the south. The Special Groups store weapons in Al Kut after transporting them across the border from Iran. More than 40 people have been killed and 75 wounded during fighting in the city and surrounding regions The Mahdi Army is said to have taken control of the center of the city of Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qhar province.
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| Posted by:3dc |
| #5 Perfesser, my info sez the commanders there were quite aware; there's simply not enough combat assets to address the situation there without pulling forces away from other areas that needed it as well. There was a review of forces; what could be spared were to be sent south. The Brits and the rest of the contributors were supposedly there to keep it from boiling over. That's quite different from 'ignoring' the region. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-03-29 17:55 |
| #4 In a way, this had to happen. The South of Iraq has been ignored while first the West, then the central-North was subdued. It is the third act of the play. The best hope is that SOCOM learned everything there is to know about who does what to whom in the South before this began. When this is over, the Iraq occupation can truly be said to be over, and from there, Iraq as a whole nation can begin in earnest. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-03-29 16:43 |
| #3 Brits should form a rear cordon around city. You must be kidding. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-03-29 11:13 |
| #2 There is a Yahoo report this AM, which saderist fighters claim to be comfortable with thier positions, because they know the side streets so well. Probably have lots of tunnels between houses and blocks, so they can pop up anywhere. There fore, Maliki should give them 24 hours to send all women and children out. Brits should form a rear cordon around city. Let the USAF do the rest, while they rest comfortably in this huddle of fighters. ps bring penetrating munitions, because this is like our chicago of the 20's. |
| Posted by: Thraviper Panda2099 2008-03-29 09:46 |
| #1 Al Kut, hmmmm? Cutting off the resupply lines? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-03-29 08:51 |