Saturday, April 07, 2007
Air strikes launched on Diwaniyah
Security
(Middle East Times) - US forces launched an air strike in the central city of Diwaniyah on Saturday as clashes between militiamen and security forces continued for a second straight day, the military said. "Iraqi army and coalition forces as part of Operation Black Eagle used a strategic air strike to defend against illegally armed militia men using shoulder-fired rocket propelled grenades," the US military said.
An Iraqi army source said US planes had bombed houses where suspects were holed up in the city's Al-Jhumuriyah district, "destroying two of them." There was no immediate information of casualties, he added. The US military said air support had been called in by the Iraqi army after "positive identification of the militiamen."
The Iraqi military source said clashes were pitting Iraqi and US forces against armed men in Diwaniyah's Salim Street and southern areas of the city including the Nahda and Wahda districts. A curfew continued in Diwaniyah for a second day and hospitals were calling in doctors to report for duty, the Iraqi army source added.
US-backed Iraqi forces swept through the city on Friday, arresting nearly 30 militants and killing three fighters as part of the crackdown aimed at reining in Shiite militiamen who often also clash among themselves.
The military said the operation was intended to disrupt militia activity and return control of the city south of Baghdad to the government.
Over the past year, Diwaniyah has seen repeated clashes between the security forces and Shiite militias. Last August, nearly two dozen Iraqi soldiers and dozens of militiamen were killed in the deadliest bout of fighting.
The city is engulfed in bitter political rivalry as militiamen loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr clash with those linked to the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), a powerful Shiite political bloc.
An Iraqi army source said US planes had bombed houses where suspects were holed up in the city's Al-Jhumuriyah district, "destroying two of them." There was no immediate information of casualties, he added. The US military said air support had been called in by the Iraqi army after "positive identification of the militiamen."
The Iraqi military source said clashes were pitting Iraqi and US forces against armed men in Diwaniyah's Salim Street and southern areas of the city including the Nahda and Wahda districts. A curfew continued in Diwaniyah for a second day and hospitals were calling in doctors to report for duty, the Iraqi army source added.
US-backed Iraqi forces swept through the city on Friday, arresting nearly 30 militants and killing three fighters as part of the crackdown aimed at reining in Shiite militiamen who often also clash among themselves.
The military said the operation was intended to disrupt militia activity and return control of the city south of Baghdad to the government.
Over the past year, Diwaniyah has seen repeated clashes between the security forces and Shiite militias. Last August, nearly two dozen Iraqi soldiers and dozens of militiamen were killed in the deadliest bout of fighting.
The city is engulfed in bitter political rivalry as militiamen loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr clash with those linked to the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), a powerful Shiite political bloc.
COMMENT: The Diwaniyah police are heavily infiltrated by the Badr Corps who are the militia of the Shia Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). There is a longstanding bitter rivalry between the Badr Corps and al-Sadr's Mahdi Army (also Shia). The Mahdi Army is also present in Diwaniyah but some sources say they no longer heed al-Sadr and are splinter groups of his militia. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Diwaniya, militias, Operation Black Eagle
