Pat Dollard | Young Americans

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces said they killed two Shi’ite militiamen, including one wearing a suicide vest, during a raid north of Baghdad on Saturday to capture a rogue leader of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mehdi Army.

The military said the main suspect, one of 15 detained in the operation, had links to an Iranian intelligence cell and was involved in kidnappings of and attacks on U.S. forces using explosively formed penetrators (EFPs).

EFPs are a particularly deadly a type of roadside bombs that can destroy a tank and have killed scores of U.S. soldiers. The U.S. military accuses Iran of supplying them to Shi’ite militias, a charge Iran denies.

The raid targeted the group’s hideout in the village of Fawwaliya in the volatile Diyala province.

“As the assault force approached the building … two armed men with weapons and hand grenades maneuvered on the assault force, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest,” the military said in a statement.

The two men were killed after ignoring warning shots, while the main target of the raid surrendered peacefully, it said.

It is unusual for Shi’ite militants to wear suicide belts. Suicide attacks are a tactic more favored by al Qaeda and other Sunni Arab insurgents.

Sadr ordered the Mehdi Army to observe a six-month ceasefire in August, saying that he wanted to reorganize it. Analysts and the U.S. military say it appears to have splintered into factions, many of which are believed to be beyond his control.

U.S. forces have stepped up operations against Mehdi Army militants it says have ignored Sadr’s ceasefire call. They have staged a number of raids in Sadr City, the sprawling slum in Baghdad that is Sadr’s main stronghold.

MNF-I:

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a senior militia extremist, killed two others and detained an additional 14 admitted criminals during operations in the village of al Fawwaliyah, northwest of Khalis early Saturday.

The operation was targeting a splinter group leader, who was not honoring Muqtada al-Sadr’s pledge to cease attacks and who was involved in weapons procurement, kidnapping operations and explosively formed penetrator attacks against Coalition forces. Intelligence indicates that this individual also has ties to an Iranian intelligence cell.

As the assault force approached the building where the criminals were believed to be housed, they called for the occupants to exit the building. Two armed men with weapons and hand grenades maneuvered on the assault force, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest. Coalition forces engaged, killing the two men after they failed to comply with instructions and warning shots. Upon securing the area, the main target of the raid identified himself and peacefully surrendered to the ground force. Inside the building, Coalition forces discovered several automatic weapons, a sniper rifle, maps and ammunition magazines. The area was further assessed to be a substantial militia extremists’ compound used to coordinate criminal activity in the area. An additional 14 admitted criminals were detained on site.

“We continue to support the Government of Iraq in welcoming the commitment by Muqtada al-Sadr to stop attacks and we will continue to show restraint in dealing with those who honor his pledge,” said Maj Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “Those who have honored his pledge have made a positive impact, reducing violence levels in Iraq. However, as this operation illustrates, not all are honoring his pledge and some continue to conduct violent crimes against Iraqi citizens and security forces. Coalition forces will continue to take the necessary action against these criminals to protect the Iraqi people from their violent actions.”