Iraqi Troops Launch New Offensive In Basra
LAT:
BAGHDAD — Artillery fire and bomb blasts shook a militia-held district in the southern city of Basra today as U.S. and British forces backed up Iraqi troops launching a new offensive in the area.
The fighting was concentrated in Hyaniyah, in western Basra, a stronghold of Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr and his Mahdi Army. Witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns said Iraqi forces were trying to wrest control of the area from the Mahdi Army, known by its Arabic acronym JAM.
“JAM tried to prevent them from entering, but fierce air strikes enabled the Iraqi Army to take over control of the main streets and roads in Hayaniyah,” one witness said.
A British military spokesman in Basra, Capt. Chris Ford, said the battles marked the start of a “new phase” in the offensive launched March 25 by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki against Shiite militias.
Hyaniyah has been surrounded by Iraqi forces for several days, but today’s actions marked the first time they had attempted to take over the neighborhood.
Ford said Iraqi forces had entered Hyaniyah after the initial bombardments by U.S. and British forces. “There were violent clashes with gunmen there” when the Iraqis moved in, he said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Fighting also was reported overnight and early today in Sadr’s Baghdad stronghold, Sadr City. A hospital official in Sadr City said 12 civilians had been killed and 71 injured in the latest confrontations.
The U.S. military had no immediate information on the Sadr City clashes but confirmed it had killed two suspected members of a mortar launching team with a Hellfire missile early today. Lt. Col. Steven Stover, a military spokesman in Baghdad, said aerial surveillance aircraft had spotted the two with a mortar tube. The missile also destroyed the tube, Stover said.
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I have been blogging about this for nearly a year: the Iraqi Army will soon be the toughest, the best equipped, and the army the most well trained in the Middle East. Iran is correct to be afraid. Very afraid. Which is why they have been sticking their noses in.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:55 amThe organization and foot soilders that have been killing Americans with Iranian EFPs is/are being liquidated. Squeal like the piglets you are JAM bitches. The once feared Mehdi army is bacon.
April 19th, 2008 at 5:25 amYou are right, Howard. Once the Iraqi Army has established itself and proved to be the dominate force in the region (and a staunch U.S. ally), President Bush’s true grand strategy will be realized.
And that will mark the beginning of the end for Iran’s mullahs and their allies like the bitch Harry Reid, etc.
April 19th, 2008 at 5:41 amThe Iraqis have been trained by the best.
Sadr needs to poke his head out so one of these IA troops can blow the damn thing off!
April 19th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Find Mookie. Kill Mookie. A dead Mookie is a good Mookie. 
April 19th, 2008 at 6:32 amThe blame for the lack of British engagement cannot be placed on the shoulders of their troops. The blame for cowardice lies squarely on the shoulders of the current majority of Liberal/Marxist/Leninist/Socialist coalition that controls parliament over there.
April 19th, 2008 at 7:26 amThe hidden benefit of a “long war” is the development of a competent NCO corps & reliable offers. That was the reason for disbandenment of the Daddam army. These guys are largest combat trained troops today.
Rearming with M16s is another sign of professionls. The Persians will lose in all forms of combat to these guys.
Sooo, hows the air force?…
April 19th, 2008 at 8:35 amAl-Maliki means business. Guess JAM’s commo must be out? LOL
April 19th, 2008 at 9:20 amA few air strikes and a little arty will fix their commo probs pronto.
Hey Folks;
April 19th, 2008 at 10:35 amToday is April 19th, the anniversary date of when “The Shot Heard Around the World” was fired on the Lexington Green 233 years ago today.
God bless Captain Parker and his men who stood tall against the British Regulars and of course Paul Revere, Billy Dawes, Sam Adams, John Hancock and many more.
That shot is still echoing today and no doubt is in Iraq!
Hoorah!
You are correct sir, to its credit the state of my birth is one of only a couple left that officially recognize “Patriots Day” . Maine has lost so much that used to make me proud, I at least have to point this out.
April 19th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Marc
April 19th, 2008 at 11:31 amSo very, very true. Keep saying it loudly. The Squadies deserve so much more support than they are getting from the MoD. It might be time for a revolution, maybe a certain Prince will lead a palace coup….
TB typical. Thanx for the support.
April 19th, 2008 at 12:35 pmJust yesterday I was reading that even one-hundred-years ago, someone was lamenting the fact that we as a nation were not celebrating “Patriots Day” as we had in the past. And now, well, as you know, it is sadly mostly forgotton. People think it is a day that the Boston Marathon is suppose to be run and have no clue as to why there suppose to be a celebration.
You are right, Howard. Once the Iraqi Army has established itself and proved to be the dominate force in the region (and a staunch U.S. ally), President Bush’s true grand strategy will be realized.
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Although THAT fact is not only buried, but smothered in the MSM, you are 200% correct.
However …
It’ll ALL be shot to shit if Hussein, or even Hillary, takes over the desk in the Oval Office.
GOTTA get McCain in there … HE, for all his domestic foibles, gets it big time in this …
April 20th, 2008 at 8:06 amYou got it right again, Driller!
April 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pm