U.S. Continues To Bomb The Shit Out Of Basra, Maliki’s Future On The Line, Al Sadr Defiant
Related: The Bombing Begins
Related: Battle In Baghdad
BAGHDAD - U.S. jets widened the bombing of Basra on Saturday, including dropping two precision-guided bombs on a suspected militia stronghold north of the city, British officials said.
Maj. Tom Holloway, a British military spokesman, said U.S. jets dropped the two bombs on a militia position in Qarmat Ali shortly before 12:30 p.m. No further elaboration was given on a wide variety of other strikes within the city and its outskirts.
Basra is Iraq’s commercial and oil hub, and militant followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have been battling Iraqi and coalition forces in the southern city since Tuesday.
“My understanding was that this was a building that had people who were shooting back at Iraqi ground forces,” Holloway said.
The number of people killed in the latest strikes was not yet known, he said.
British jets also have been providing air support in the area.
American forces launched their first airstrikes in Basra Friday as Iraqi troops struggled against strong resistance in the nation’s commercial center and headquarters of the vital oil industry. Clashes there have sparked retaliatory fights in Baghdad and other Shiite cities.
The fight for Basra is crucial for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who flew to Basra earlier this week and is staking his credibility on gaining control of Iraq’s second largest city, which has essentially been held by armed groups for nearly three years.
Al-Maliki, speaking on government television Saturday, told tribal leaders in the southern city that he “will not leave Basra until security is restored” and those who have taken up arms against the government will be punished.
“We will continue to stand up to these gangs in every inch of Iraq,” he said. “This is a decisive and final battle.”
Al-Sadr called on his followers to defy government orders to surrender their weapons, saying arms of the Mahdi Army should only be turned over to a national leadership “that can get the occupier”—meaning the Americans their coalition allies—out of Iraq.
The order was made public by Haidar al-Jabiri, a member of the political commission of the Sadrist movement.
Sheik Nasir Abdul Hussein in Basra said several airstrikes came after midnight and were followed by gunbattles.
“The thunder of the aircraft frightened children,” he said. “The sound smashed glasses, and the area was lighted by aircraft.”
The crackdown in Basra has provoked a violent reaction—especially from al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army. Some who claim to be his followers accuse rival Shiite parties in the government of trying to crush their movement before provincial elections this fall.
Their alleged anger has led to a sharp increase in attacks against American troops in Shiite areas following months of relative calm after al-Sadr declared a unilateral cease-fire last August and recently extended it for six months.
In extracts of an interview broadcast by the Al-Jazeera television network, al-Sadr called Saturday for Arab leaders to voice their support for Iraq’s “resistance” to what he calls foreign occupation.
Many Shiite militias, including the Mahdi Army, are believed to receive weapons, money and training from nearby Iran, the world’s most populous Shiite nation.
After a Friday deadline for gunmen to surrender their weapons and renounce violence expired with few complying, al-Maliki’s office announced a new deal, offering Basra residents unspecified monetary compensation if they turn over “heavy and medium-size weapons” by April 8.
In Baghdad, Iraqi police said U.S. helicopters carried out airstrikes on the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City Friday night. Television footage showed destroyed buildings and the smoking wreckage of at least one car.
The U.S. military said in an e-mail that an air assault it carried out last night was in the Kazamiyah neighborhood, west of Sadr City, killing 10 militants.
Allegedly, some 40 policemen in Sadr City handed over their weapons to al-Sadr’s local office, one of the policemen told The Associated Press on Saturday.
“We can’t fight our brothers in the Mahdi Army, so we came here to submit our weapons,” the policeman said on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
The police in Sadr City have long been believed by some to be heavily influenced or infiltrated by Mahdi militiamen. The AP has no independent verification of this allegation.
However, AP Television News footage showed a group of about a dozen uniformed police, their faces covered with masks to shield their identity, being met by Sheik Salman al-Feraiji, al-Sadr’s chief representative in Sadr City.
Al-Feraiji greeted each policeman and gave them a copy of the Quran and an olive branch as they handed over their guns and ammunition. There is no way to tell if the event was real, or staged for the cameras.
(AP)
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honestly i think we might keep seeing residual fighting like this until Iran recieves a clear message from us. stop sending over fighters and weapons or face the consequences of being pulled into this battle yourself. one day they will have to be confronted anyways. Iran has too much American blood on its hands already.
March 29th, 2008 at 6:50 amDon’t Iraqi forces have jets and helicopters to launch airstrikes against militia groups and provide support for their ground troops?
March 29th, 2008 at 7:26 amIf we could get away with providing air support while the IA and IP handle the ground fighting in Basra then thats what we should keep doing. a day will come when the Iraqis will take the handoff of their country and they need to be tested more and more as to their readiness. i think they would surprise alot of people
March 29th, 2008 at 7:28 amI thought it was the “renegades” of the Mahdi army causing trouble?
Hmmm…thats right, there are no renegades in the Mahdi army. Put’em down 
March 29th, 2008 at 8:52 amCan someone explain to me why Al-Sadr is still alive? I know there where plans to assassinate him early in the campaign but the State Dept. waivered. Why is that Iranian backed rag headed instigator still allowed to breath is beyond belief! Time to cut the head of the snake once and for all!
March 29th, 2008 at 8:59 amSupport your local Jihadi Killer
I have been wondering about this for a long time now. he has been doing nothing but taking air away from more worthy humans.
I think it had something to do with us hunting and killing AQI first. getting them out of the picture and at the same time preparing for the destruction of the Mahdi army. that day has dawned and it looks like we will all get our wish very soon. his group has alot of American and Iraqi blood on their hands.
March 29th, 2008 at 9:06 amKurt(Typical white infidel)
Thanks for the thought.
Al Sadr has been a thorn in our sides since the beginning. I heard the military was begging to take this guy out from the onset. The State Dept., and Condi Rice put a stop to it. I say make him a martyr already!
The sooner we kill him, the sooner the people will forget about him and the country can move forward. The best part about killing him is sticking our big fucking finger right in Irans eye.
March 29th, 2008 at 9:36 amLeave them nothing,but take from them Everything
March 29th, 2008 at 10:06 amtime to splatter some Shiite
Killing Sadr in Iran and a few thousand more of his followers in Basra and Sadr City will show the radical Shiites who is the “strong horse.” Once they know we are the pack leader, the alpha dog, the ones left will fall in line follow.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pmal sadr has nothing to lose if he tells his followers to hold out until our elections are over and if the dhimmis get control Iraq will be his and acheads for the taking.I am sure as I am breathing that Pelosi/Reid /Olameass and Hildebeast have told achead and al sadr to hold on because the when the defeatist get control they will turn tail and run but will leave them a pile of cash for reparations.
March 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pmI have never seen an invitation like this. Mookie is begging to be crushed. This should be accomplished in a week or two, taking the U.S. elections in November out of the equation.
Get some, Nouri! We got your back. You can be the Ike or Patton of Iraq.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:25 pmIt’s time to make them believe we are totally fucking crazy.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:28 pmUS special forces and ISOF rock. Whats the two day mehdi army death toll anyway? Seems like it could be in the hundreds.
[[Iraqi Special Operations Forces engage, kill 22 in Basra
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces engaged and killed several criminal fighters in Basra March 29.
The operation was conducted in support of the Government of Iraq’s efforts to secure and stabilize the city.
The ISOF conducted the operation in a known criminal stronghold in western Basra to disrupt criminal activities and capture criminal leaders.
En route to their target, the ISOF were engaged multiple times by small arms and rocket propelled grenades. Upon arrival at the target, and under fire, the ground assault force entered a building and killed four enemy fighters. Ground forces cleared the structure, finding two women and five children who were unharmed.
While at the target location, ISOF came under enemy fire from ground level and roof-top locations. They killed two enemy fighters on an apartment roof.
While engaged with hostile forces, ISOF and a supporting U.S. Special Forces team identified additional armed criminal elements in the area.
A supporting Coalition forces aircraft identified enemy forces on three roof-tops and engaged with precision gunfire after being cleared by ground forces. Initial reports indicate 16 criminal fighters were killed.
While exiting the area, ISOF were under enemy small arms and RPG attacks.
One vehicle was also struck by an improvised explosive device causing minor damage to the vehicle.
Two ISOF Soldiers were wounded during the operation.
]]
March 29th, 2008 at 7:45 pm