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Mahdi Army takes a hit in Baghdad, Basrah
Long War Journal ^ | May 5, 2008 5:32 PM | Bill Roggio

Posted on 05/05/2008 10:13:50 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Mahdi Army takes a hit in Baghdad, Basrah

By Bill RoggioMay 5, 2008 5:32 PM

Sadr-City-1-27INF.jpg

US Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division guard construction of a concrete wall running through the Shiite enclave of Sadr City, Baghdad, on Sunday, May 4, 2008. AP Photo.

Clashes between the Mahdi Army and US and Iraqi forces continued in Baghdad over the weekend as efforts to complete the security barriers separating the southern portion of Sadr City from the Mahdi Army-controlled north. The US military has moved another battalion of Strykers into the Sadr City. In the South, Iraqi troops cleared another militia-controlled neighborhood in Basrah.

Baghdad battles

US and Iraqi forces have killed 18 Mahdi Army fighters in Sadr City and New Baghdad since the afternoon of May 3. Nine Mahdi Army fighters were killed in Sadr City and northern and eastern Baghdad during the nighttime and early morning hours of May 4-5 after attacking US forces, planting roadside bombs, or preparing to launch mortars and rockets.

US soldiers killed four more Mahdi Army fighters in the eastern district of New Baghdad after coming under attack on May 4. And US troops killed five more Mahdi Army fighters in Sadr City as they attempted to stop the barrier from being built late May 3 and early May 4. No US soldiers were reported killed in any of the incidents.

US and Iraqi forces have inflicted heavy casualties on the Mahdi Army in Sadr City and surrounding neighborhoods since the fighting broke out in Baghdad on March 25. According to US and Iraqi reports compiled by The Long War Journal, 502 Mahdi Army fighters have been killed in and around Sadr City. These numbers do not include Mahdi Army fighters who may have died after being wounded in the fighting.

Bagdad-neighborhoods-map-thumb.jpg

Map of Baghdad neighborhoods. Click to view.

With heavy fighting inside Sadr City, the US military is beefing up its forces in the area. Multinational Forces Iraq has moved an additional battalion to the Sadr City region over the past several days. The 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division has moved from northwestern Baghdad province into the Sadr City area over the past week. This is the ninth US battalion known to be operating inside Sadr City. Two Iraqi Army brigades and a National Police brigade are also operating inside Sadr City.

Raids on the Iranian-backed Special Groups

US and Iraqi special forces teams have renewed their raids against the Special Groups, the Iranian-backed elements of the Mahdi Army. Ten Special Groups leaders and operatives have been captured during raids in Baghdad and Hillah since May 2.

On May 4, Coalition special forces captured two Special Groups operatives, including the main target, in the Rashid district in Baghdad. The main target was a commander who was "wanted for facilitating the import of Iranian-made munitions into Iraq" as well as directing mortar and rocket attacks and operating safe houses for his operatives.

Iraqi special forces conducted two raids -- one in Hillah and one in Baghdad -- on May 2. The Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics team captured two men "charged with conducting a series of attacks against a Coalition forces base with indirect fire weapons." Four associates were also captured during the raids.

Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured a "mid-level Special Groups leader" and an associate during a raid in Baghdad on May 2. The Special Groups leader led a 50-man company that conducted mortar and rocket attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces. The commander also directed kidnappings and murders.

Iraqi troops clear another neighborhood in Basrah

As operations against the Mahdi Army continue in Baghdad, Iraqi security forces press the offensive in Basrah. Soldiers from Quick Reaction Force 1 cleared the Mahdi Army-controlled neighborhood of Al Latif.

"The clearing of Al Latif resulted in several cache discoveries, including dozens of automatic weapons, mortars and improvised explosive devices," Multinational Forces Iraq reported in a press release. "The QRF 1 also detained several criminals, and raided and demolished the residence of a known IED maker and militia leader."

Al Latif is the fifth Mahdi Army-controlled neighborhood cleared in Basrah since Operation Knights' Assault was launched on March 25. Iraqi security forces have cleared the Al Huteen, Hayaniyah, Taymiyyah, and Qiblah neighborhoods over the past several weeks.

Quick Reaction Force 1 is the new designation for the 1st Iraqi Army Division, the most experienced unit in the Iraqi military. This unit deployed from Anbar province at the opening days of the Basrah operation to assist in the offensive.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: basra; iran; iraq; oif; roggio; sadrcity
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To: Allegra
Ironman Movie is opening....just came across this:

Top 11 Problems with Having an Iron Suit

First:

11. Female welders are really into you.
Have you ever seen a female welder?

21 posted on 05/05/2008 11:18:50 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: NormsRevenge; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Lancey Howard; trooprally; Doctor Raoul; mware; mdittmar; ...

Interesting rebuttal to ignorant criticism of the use of the AC-130 gunships for Sadr City improvement.

http://medicineagency.com/blog/archives/2290

# Drew Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 8:19 pm

The action of using AC-130U Spooky gunships in the limits of populated areas in Iraq and elsewhere is an action of calling for extremely precise, direct firepower.

The AC-130U has the most advanced weapon’s software and the most extensive lines of software code of any aircraft on the planet — more than the space shuttle.

The AC-130U uses those computer programs to precisely attack — within 36 inches — a specific and discriminate target with a range of weapons including the 25mm, 40mm, and 105mm howitzer, all of which are extremely accurate.

The AC-130U is used mostly to protect elite U.S. special operations forces in combat, and provide surgical firepower in a danger-close manner in relation special forces.

The AC-130 was used in Sadr City recently as an alternate to a guided bomb from an F-16, F-15, or B-1 bomber, which would have most likely caused mass collateral damage.

The AC-130U is always, ALWAYS used as a tool to lessen collateral damage while protecting allied troops. That is why it is being used in Iraq, that is why the collateral damage is so low, and that is why the enemy neutralization is so effective.

~~~~~

Yeah, Drew!


22 posted on 05/05/2008 11:20:50 PM PDT by STARWISE (They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
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Iron Works Business Cards
Graphics For Welders, Steel Workers Blacksmiths & More, Only $2.99!

23 posted on 05/05/2008 11:22:12 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Got any details to share?

I share 'em as I get 'em. Anything in particular you're looking for?

I'm still stateside, BTW. ;-)

24 posted on 05/05/2008 11:22:19 PM PDT by Allegra (Tehran delenda est)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Have you ever seen a female welder?

LOL - only in that 80s movie, Flashdance.

25 posted on 05/05/2008 11:23:29 PM PDT by Allegra (Tehran delenda est)
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To: Allegra
I'm too tired to ask...time to rest my tired bones....have a good evening....wait...you're not on Baghdad Time...what are you doing up this late...?

Don't answer that....LOL!

Nite/..

26 posted on 05/05/2008 11:27:43 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Iran’s leadership has to be one pissed off crew right now. Their proxy army in Iraq, the Mahdi Army, is currently getting its ass kicked worse than Hezbollah did by the Israelis a year ago. Years of training these inept amatuers and arming them down the drain.


27 posted on 05/06/2008 12:22:22 AM PDT by Proud_USA_Republican (We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

“a commander who was “wanted for facilitating the import of Iranian-made munitions into Iraq”
The Iraqis need to “soften” this guy up, and make him confess, and implicate iran, on Iraqi tv. They’ve done that before with good results.


28 posted on 05/06/2008 1:32:15 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

man oh man...block by block..they are kicking ass over there...

god bless every one of them...true grit...

looks like we have yet another greatest generation...not that it was ever in doubt tbh...

i love the way they are using the SF teams as well...they are beheading the org in pin point hits...that mix is a devastating one for the bad guys. i bet those irianian guys are planking it..and if they arent...they should be...


29 posted on 05/06/2008 2:00:49 AM PDT by Irishguy (How do ya LIKE THOSE APPLES!!!!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I'm sure Iran will not like the long list of their agents working in Iraq to get distributed in due time. The Mullahs and their cronies are going to find nothing but further isolation as time goes on.
The Russians and Chinese had better stop being assholes and realize the US has to much to lose in the ME to allow Iran to be screwing around.
30 posted on 05/06/2008 10:38:19 AM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter was our best choice...)
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