Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Los Angeles Times
April 20, 2008 Angered by government raids, he issues a 'last warning.' An end to his militia's truce would pose big problems for the U.S.
By Tina Susman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
BAGHDAD — Hard-line Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr threatened "open war" as Iraqi and U.S. forces battled his Mahdi Army militia in two key strongholds Saturday, raising the specter that a truce credited with reducing violence could soon end.
The warning was the closest the cleric has come to canceling the truce he called in August, and it coincided with an Iranian denunciation of U.S. airstrikes in support of the Shiite-led government's military offensive.
The United States accuses Iran of providing training, arms and other aid to Shiite extremists. The Iranian ambassador's comments, coming on the same day as Sadr's threat, were expected to fuel the U.S. allegations and exacerbate the explosive situation.
The statement, which Sadr said was his "last warning," made it clear that, nearly a month into the offensive against Shiite militiamen, the fighting is far from over. It also underscored the deepening rift between Sadr and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, exposing yet another political rivalry, this one among Shiites, that will hamper national reconciliation efforts.
If Sadr makes good on his threat, it would be the third time his forces have risen up against U.S. forces, and it would be a setback to Gen. David H. Petraeus' efforts to maintain security gains made since the deployment last year of 28,500 additional American troops.
The last of those forces is scheduled to leave Iraq in July, and U.S. military leaders had banked on Sadr's truce to keep Shiite extremists pacified while soldiers focused on quelling Sunni militants linked to Al Qaeda in Iraq. Several recent bombings characteristic of Al Qaeda in Iraq have indicated that Sunni militants are regrouping in areas that had been relatively quiet.
If Sadr were to call his militia back to action, the United States could find itself in the same situation it was early last year, when the high level of violence prompted President Bush to boost troop levels.
At least 12 people were reported killed Saturday in the latest battles in Sadr's Baghdad power base, Sadr City. In Basra, 250 miles to the south, witnesses and military officials reported gun battles in Hayaniya, a western neighborhood that had been held by the Mahdi Army.
A police official in Basra said Iraqi forces had seized control of Hayaniya and had detained scores of gunmen and confiscated weapons and ammunition. There was no independent confirmation of the statement.
Residents and the British military, which has about 4,100 troops stationed on the outskirts of Basra, said U.S. and British forces launched the offensive about 6 a.m. with barrages of bombs and artillery.
Capt. Chris Ford, a British military spokesman, said the initial blasts were intended as "an impressive display of firepower" to show militia fighters what they faced if they tried to resist the Iraqi troops. Ford said the bombs and artillery were fired into an open field, not into residential areas.
After that, Iraqi forces began moving into Hayaniya for the first time. Witnesses, who did not want to be identified for security reasons, reported intense fighting.
"It was a hard day for us. The sounds of the bombs were terrifying the children and women, from morning until this afternoon," said Radhi Daraji, a Hayaniya resident. By late Saturday, he said, the situation was calm, but most Mahdi Army members had fled the previous night after getting wind of the offensive. "All of them escaped to outside Hayaniya."
Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, weighed in on the latest developments at a news conference at the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad. He expressed support for Iraqi government efforts to get rid of outlaws but said U.S. strikes on Sadr City and other Sadr districts would "aggravate the situation and make things worse."
"The U.S. insistence on continuing this military action is a mistake, and it will lead to negative results that the Iraqi government will have to shoulder the responsibility for," Kazemi-Qomi said.
The United States has accused Iran of controlling much of the violence in Shiite districts since Maliki launched his offensive in Basra on March 25. As the offensive began, rockets that the United States alleges come from Iran began hitting U.S. military bases across Baghdad, as well as the Green Zone, site of the U.S. Embassy and most Iraqi government offices.
Fighting and rocket attacks died down after Iraqi lawmakers traveled to Iran, where Sadr is believed to be, to negotiate a cease-fire.
On Friday, Sadr aides and political representatives had hinted at their growing impatience with what Sadr says is an unjust offensive targeting his Mahdi Army.
Harith Ithari, a Sadr aide in Basra, said loyalists had been prevented from holding weekly prayers at their downtown office. He said Iraqi and British military vehicles were parked outside the building, which had been an office of the Iraqi National Olympic Committee.
The military apparently was acting under Maliki's orders to clear non-political entities who were occupying government buildings, but it served to enrage Sadr's followers.
"I think this is wrong and irrational, as prayers are for God only, and not for Sadr or anyone else," said Dakhil Radhi, one of those turned away by a soldier. "The soldier should have prayed with us, and after that they can do whatever they want according to their duties."
Two U.S. troop deaths were reported Saturday. One soldier died in Salahuddin province in northern Iraq and another in Baghdad, both in roadside bombings Friday, according to brief statements. At least 4,039 U.S. forces have died in Iraq since the start of the war in March 2003, according to icasualties.org.
Special correspondent Saad Fakhrildeen in Najaf and correspondents in Basra and Baghdad contributed to this report.
April 20, 2008 Angered by government raids, he issues a 'last warning.' An end to his militia's truce would pose big problems for the U.S.
By Tina Susman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
BAGHDAD — Hard-line Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr threatened "open war" as Iraqi and U.S. forces battled his Mahdi Army militia in two key strongholds Saturday, raising the specter that a truce credited with reducing violence could soon end.
The warning was the closest the cleric has come to canceling the truce he called in August, and it coincided with an Iranian denunciation of U.S. airstrikes in support of the Shiite-led government's military offensive.
The United States accuses Iran of providing training, arms and other aid to Shiite extremists. The Iranian ambassador's comments, coming on the same day as Sadr's threat, were expected to fuel the U.S. allegations and exacerbate the explosive situation.
The statement, which Sadr said was his "last warning," made it clear that, nearly a month into the offensive against Shiite militiamen, the fighting is far from over. It also underscored the deepening rift between Sadr and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, exposing yet another political rivalry, this one among Shiites, that will hamper national reconciliation efforts.
If Sadr makes good on his threat, it would be the third time his forces have risen up against U.S. forces, and it would be a setback to Gen. David H. Petraeus' efforts to maintain security gains made since the deployment last year of 28,500 additional American troops.
The last of those forces is scheduled to leave Iraq in July, and U.S. military leaders had banked on Sadr's truce to keep Shiite extremists pacified while soldiers focused on quelling Sunni militants linked to Al Qaeda in Iraq. Several recent bombings characteristic of Al Qaeda in Iraq have indicated that Sunni militants are regrouping in areas that had been relatively quiet.
If Sadr were to call his militia back to action, the United States could find itself in the same situation it was early last year, when the high level of violence prompted President Bush to boost troop levels.
At least 12 people were reported killed Saturday in the latest battles in Sadr's Baghdad power base, Sadr City. In Basra, 250 miles to the south, witnesses and military officials reported gun battles in Hayaniya, a western neighborhood that had been held by the Mahdi Army.
A police official in Basra said Iraqi forces had seized control of Hayaniya and had detained scores of gunmen and confiscated weapons and ammunition. There was no independent confirmation of the statement.
Residents and the British military, which has about 4,100 troops stationed on the outskirts of Basra, said U.S. and British forces launched the offensive about 6 a.m. with barrages of bombs and artillery.
Capt. Chris Ford, a British military spokesman, said the initial blasts were intended as "an impressive display of firepower" to show militia fighters what they faced if they tried to resist the Iraqi troops. Ford said the bombs and artillery were fired into an open field, not into residential areas.
After that, Iraqi forces began moving into Hayaniya for the first time. Witnesses, who did not want to be identified for security reasons, reported intense fighting.
"It was a hard day for us. The sounds of the bombs were terrifying the children and women, from morning until this afternoon," said Radhi Daraji, a Hayaniya resident. By late Saturday, he said, the situation was calm, but most Mahdi Army members had fled the previous night after getting wind of the offensive. "All of them escaped to outside Hayaniya."
Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, weighed in on the latest developments at a news conference at the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad. He expressed support for Iraqi government efforts to get rid of outlaws but said U.S. strikes on Sadr City and other Sadr districts would "aggravate the situation and make things worse."
"The U.S. insistence on continuing this military action is a mistake, and it will lead to negative results that the Iraqi government will have to shoulder the responsibility for," Kazemi-Qomi said.
The United States has accused Iran of controlling much of the violence in Shiite districts since Maliki launched his offensive in Basra on March 25. As the offensive began, rockets that the United States alleges come from Iran began hitting U.S. military bases across Baghdad, as well as the Green Zone, site of the U.S. Embassy and most Iraqi government offices.
Fighting and rocket attacks died down after Iraqi lawmakers traveled to Iran, where Sadr is believed to be, to negotiate a cease-fire.
On Friday, Sadr aides and political representatives had hinted at their growing impatience with what Sadr says is an unjust offensive targeting his Mahdi Army.
Harith Ithari, a Sadr aide in Basra, said loyalists had been prevented from holding weekly prayers at their downtown office. He said Iraqi and British military vehicles were parked outside the building, which had been an office of the Iraqi National Olympic Committee.
The military apparently was acting under Maliki's orders to clear non-political entities who were occupying government buildings, but it served to enrage Sadr's followers.
"I think this is wrong and irrational, as prayers are for God only, and not for Sadr or anyone else," said Dakhil Radhi, one of those turned away by a soldier. "The soldier should have prayed with us, and after that they can do whatever they want according to their duties."
Two U.S. troop deaths were reported Saturday. One soldier died in Salahuddin province in northern Iraq and another in Baghdad, both in roadside bombings Friday, according to brief statements. At least 4,039 U.S. forces have died in Iraq since the start of the war in March 2003, according to icasualties.org.
Special correspondent Saad Fakhrildeen in Najaf and correspondents in Basra and Baghdad contributed to this report.