Thursday, May 31, 2007
Insurgents fight each other in western Baghdad
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - Wide-scale clashes broke out on Thursday in al-Aameriya neighborhood in western Baghdad between gunmen believed to be members of al-Ashreen (1920) Revolution Brigades and the Islamic army on the one hand and elements of al-Qaeda on the other, eyewitnesses said. "The clashes covered most of the main streets, like al-Amal al-Shaabi, al-Munathama and al-Markaz in al-Aameriya neighborhood in western Baghdad," an eyewitness told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) over the phone.
"Residents are besieged inside their houses and the clashes still underway," he added. "Many masked gunmen arrived to the area seemingly as reinforcements and are engaged in the clashes," he also said, noting that most likely they are from al-Qaeda, backing up their elements. Another eyewitness said that al-Aameriya preparatory school, where many gunmen hide, was mortared.
A third eyewitness told VOI by telephone that he can see through his house window scores of bodies in the main street near the police station in al-Aameriya. "The Iraqi army and police forces have not intervened so far, but U.S. helicopters were seen hovering over the area," the third eyewitness said. No word was available from Iraqi police or Multi-National Forces on the clashes.
Al-Aameriya, a Sunni neighborhood, is in the western part of Baghdad where many armed groups that linked to Qaeda in Iraq organization. Media reports have recently indicated a divorce between al-Qaeda and other armed factions like al-Ashreen (1920) Revolution Brigades and The Islamic Army after accusing Qaeda of being behind the killing of militants belonging to some Iraqi armed groups including the al-Ashreen Revolution Brigades and the Islamic Army.
"Residents are besieged inside their houses and the clashes still underway," he added. "Many masked gunmen arrived to the area seemingly as reinforcements and are engaged in the clashes," he also said, noting that most likely they are from al-Qaeda, backing up their elements. Another eyewitness said that al-Aameriya preparatory school, where many gunmen hide, was mortared.
A third eyewitness told VOI by telephone that he can see through his house window scores of bodies in the main street near the police station in al-Aameriya. "The Iraqi army and police forces have not intervened so far, but U.S. helicopters were seen hovering over the area," the third eyewitness said. No word was available from Iraqi police or Multi-National Forces on the clashes.
Al-Aameriya, a Sunni neighborhood, is in the western part of Baghdad where many armed groups that linked to Qaeda in Iraq organization. Media reports have recently indicated a divorce between al-Qaeda and other armed factions like al-Ashreen (1920) Revolution Brigades and The Islamic Army after accusing Qaeda of being behind the killing of militants belonging to some Iraqi armed groups including the al-Ashreen Revolution Brigades and the Islamic Army.
Labels: Al Qaeda, al-Aameriya, Islamic Army, the 1920 Revolution Brigades
