Posted on 01/28/2007 11:06:07 AM PST by cgk
Edited on 01/28/2007 11:44:41 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
U.S., Iraqi forces kill 250 militants in Najaf Sun Jan 28, 2007 2:16 PM ET
NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi forces killed 250 gunmen in a fierce battle involving U.S. tanks and helicopters on the outskirts of the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf on Sunday, a senior Iraqi police officer said. The day-long battle was continuing after nightfall, Colonel Ali Nomas told Reuters, as tens of thousands of pilgrims converged on the nearby city of Kerbala for the climax of the Ashura commemorations. A U.S. helicopter was shot down in the fighting, Iraq security sources said. The U.S. military declined comment. A Reuters reporter saw a helicopter come down trailing smoke. Shi'ite political sources said the gunmen appeared to be both Sunni Arabs and Shi'ites loyal to a cleric called Ahmed Hassani. In Baghdad, 13 people were killed in bombings in mainly Shi'ite areas, police said. Twin car bombs targeting ethnic Kurds killed 16 people as night fell in the northern oil city of Kirkuk, whose population is a volatile mix of Kurds, Turkmen and Sunni and Shi'ite Arabs. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have converged on Iraq's other main Shi'ite holy city, Kerbala, for Ashura, marking the 7th century Battle of Kerbala, which helped consolidate the schism between Shi'ite and Sunni Islam. It ends on Monday. It is the first time the 10-day annual ritual has been held since violence erupted last February between Iraq's majority Shi'ites and once-dominant minority Sunnis. Tens of thousands have since been killed in tit-for-tat killings. The governor of Najaf province said Iraqi troops fought a day-long battle with up to 200 Sunni gunmen, including foreign fighters, holed up in orchards on the northern outskirts of the city, seat of Iraq's most powerful Shi'ite clerics. Governor Asaad Abu Gilel told Reuters the authorities had uncovered a plot to kill some of the clerics on Monday, to coincide with the climax of Ashura. "There is a conspiracy to kill the clergy on the 10th day of Muharram," Najaf governor Abu Gilel said, referring to the day of the Muslim calendar on Monday. A Reuters reporter about 1.5 km (1 mile) from the fighting said he heard intense gunfire and saw U.S. helicopters rocket groves sheltering militants. He saw smoke trailing from one helicopter before it came down in the midst of the fighting. He was unable to see what had happened to the helicopter, but officers in Iraq's 8th Army Division and policemen said it had crashed and that the two crew members were dead. The U.S. military said it did not comment on operations still taking place. (Additional reporting by Aseel Kami, Sherko Raouf in Sulaimaniya) |
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Shiite. At least that group. There may be others involved.
"Sheesh,thats a lot of virgins"
I think some of the anoited martyrs may have to settle for sloppy seconds!
Just for once? Think human?
A blindfolded detainee sits inside a police vehicle after he was arrested in Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, January 28, 2007. Iraqi security forces battled Sunni militants in orchards on the northern outskirts of the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf on Sunday, the governor said. (Ali Abu Shish/Reuters)
Special police commandos stand guard on top of their vehicle in Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, January 28, 2007. Iraqi security forces battled Sunni militants in orchards on the northern outskirts of the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf on Sunday, the governor said. (Ali Abu Shish/Reuters)
Smoke rises from the site where a US helicopter allegedly crashed near the town of Zarqa, north of the central Iraqi city of Najaf. More than 250 militants were killed during a fierce fight between Iraqi and US forces and gunmen, including foreign fighters, near the Shiite holy city of Najaf Sunday, police sources said.(AFP/Qassem Zein)
Please keep me informed if we get any more "after action" news.
I really would like to know as much as possible, especially the part about the plan to kill Sistani.
That could have blown away ANY plans that Pres. Bush and Gen. Petraeus have drawn up, imo.
And they've arrested 600 members of the Mahdi Army in the past few weeks.
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=41980&archive=true
There you go; I totally agree.
Few months ago, I posted the same opinion (Sadr wants to kill Sistani) and WOW......the flak I got for it! LOL
Yes,....but these guys wanted a shorter route ....to Heaven.
Kill counts are good and all, but at what point does the number killed = victory? Will there be enough of a troop presence to keep this area from becoming infested again?
how about a New phrase from the MSM:
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apocalyptic Muslim cult
Big wedding!
Well I am sure we did and will do all that we can to speed their journey along!
Yeah, how dare we mess with TRADITION??
Got to get out for food and errands....be back much later....
You should ping Jveritas. He will be able to tell you more about this group possibly because he reads arabic.
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