Sadr crackdown nets 600 fighters

BBC ^ | Tuesday, January 23, 2007

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Many Mehdi Army fighters have melted out of sight

About 600 fighters and 16 leaders of the radical Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, have been captured by security forces in Iraq, the US military says.

The statement said 52 operations had been conducted in 45 days targeting the militia, which is loyal to Najaf-based cleric Moqtada Sadr.

Sunni extremists were also the focus of the crackdown, the US military said.

US and Iraqi forces are currently preparing for a broad offensive in the strife-torn Iraqi capital Baghdad.

	Criminal activities by these individuals propagated instability within Iraq US military statement

The military said five of the Mehdi Army leaders were detained in the pro-Sadr bastion, Sadr City. One senior figure was killed in a raid.

"The detainees are responsible for attacks against the government of Iraq, Iraqi citizens and coalition forces," the US military said.

"Criminal activities by these individuals propagated instability within Iraq and their removal from the social structure is a critical start to providing the Iraqi populace with a safe and stable environment."

In addition, 33 Sunni extremist cell leaders were detained in Baghdad, the statement said.

The statement said they were "responsible for foreign fighter facilitation, car bomb facilitation, and propaganda operations".

Correspondents say the Mehdi Army has up to 60,000 fighters.

Harder line

The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says it is still not clear how significant the senior Mehdi Army figures now in custody are.

Sadr's group has spearheaded anti-US military action in the past

But this appears to be the beginnings of a harder line on this widely feared Shia militia, he says.

In the past, the Iraqi government has been criticised for turning a blind eye to Mehdi Army activities for political reasons.

A spokesman for the movement would not confirm the numbers detained, but he said they were now seeing Iraqi and US raids almost every day.

Police are still finding dozens of bodies across the capital every day, most of them believed to be the victims of sectarian death squads.

Many Iraqis remain deeply sceptical that the Mehdi Army will be broken up, our correspondent says, and those fighters who have gone to ground are believed to have hidden their weapons, ready for future confrontations.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

What time is the State of the Union?

[FreedomPoster]

>>About 600 fighters and 16 leaders of the radical Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, have been captured by security forces in Iraq, the US military says.

I hope the Kurds have them.

[TADSLOS]

Correspondents say the Mehdi Army has up to 60,000 fighters.

They should know since they double as recruiters.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The Kurdish troops are supposed to be among the top-notch of the Iraqi military, too.

[IrishMike]

Great news, coupled with this...
The U.S. military said on Monday 93 rebels were killed and 57 captured in a 10-day operation against al Qaeda-linked insurgents northeast of Baghdad.

[SamuraiScot]

>>About 600 fighters and 16 leaders of the radical Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, have been captured by security forces in Iraq, the US military says.<<

I hope the Kurds have them.

You just want the Kurds to have their whey with them.

[Dustbunny]

About 600 fighters and 16 leaders of the radical Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, have been captured by security forces in Iraq, the US military says.

It is about time

[Fresh Wind]

Why is Sadr still alive?

[FreedomPoster]

Sadr still being alive, and Fallujah not being flattened, as a lesson to others, were the huge missed opportunities of late 2003.

[Thrownatbirth]

Correspondents say the Mehdi Army has up to 60,000 fighters.

How many when it's up against US Marines?

[highlander_UW]

This has been happening over the last 45 days and we haven't heard peep one in the media about it?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

45 days? Wasn't the decision to pursue Sadr pretty recent?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Sadr should have been captured (or killed) when he first appeared as a threat. But it seems some officials caved in and decided that he could be useful in bringing about peace in Iraq. Obviously, he didn't. Also agree with Fallujah being destroyed to set an example (at least in theory).

[highlander_UW]

45 days? Wasn't the decision to pursue Sadr pretty recent?

My comment was based upon this statement from the OP article...

The statement said 52 operations had been conducted in 45 days targeting the militia, which is loyal to Najaf-based cleric Moqtada Sadr.

[FreeReign]

Correspondents say the Mehdi Army has up to 60,000 fighters.

Who are these unnamed "correspondents" and did they actually count all 60,000 fighters or where they given that number by somebody else unnamed?

[airborne]

I may get flamed for this, but here goes.


Allowing Sadr to live for as long as he has is criminal.

Our brave men deserve better. And to allow a known terrorist and his cronies to take part in the Iraqi government is self destructive.

Who made this decision that caused the preventable deaths of Americans?

[FreeReign]

Police are still finding dozens of bodies across the capital every day, most of them believed to be the victims of sectarian death squads.

"Sectarian violence" my a$$.

Actually it's Iranian and al-Qaeda backed insurgents of both sects against the innocent of Iraqi (both sects).

The Sunni insurgents and the Shia militias don't seem to be attacking each other. They both instead seem to attack innocent woman and children at some market or students at some University.

BCC spreads the al-Qaeda/Iranian propaganda.

[BuffaloJack]

That's a good start.
Maybe they can set up a second detainment facility to house them all. Is Alcatraz available? It's a shame to use such a fine facility as just a tourism curiosity.

[FreeReign]

I may get flamed for this, but here goes. Allowing Sadr to live for as long as he has is criminal. Our brave men deserve better. And to allow a known terrorist and his cronies to take part in the Iraqi government is self destructive. Who made this decision that caused the preventable deaths of Americans?

Not sure that you are correct.

It appears to me that it has been al-Qaeda and Sunni based insurgents who have been IED'ing our troops.Up until recently, the Shiite militias have been targeting Iraqi civilians.

I suspect, our delay in dealing with the Shiite militias is because we want the Iraqi security forces to remove the Shiite militias instead of our precious soldiers putting their lives on the line going door-to-door doing the dirty work.

That scenario probably saves American lives.