Posted on 05/24/2008 10:35:40 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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US Army Major Carter Price meets with Brigadier General Sameed, the commander of the 22nd Battalion, 6th Iraqi Army Division, at the Office of the Martyr Sadr in the Shula neighborhood of northern Gazaliyah in Baghdad on May 15, 2008. The Office of the Martyr Sadr build was taken over by the Iraqi army after the MAhdi Army used it to conduct and direct attacks. (US Army photo / Specialist Charles W. Gill) |
Less than one week after pushing into the northern two-thirds of Sadr City from the walled southern neighborhoods, the Iraqi Army is uncovering substantial weapons caches in the Mahdi Army stronghold. Iraqi and Coalition forces continue to press against the Mahdi Army in Baghdad as the New Baghdad district begins to heat up.
The Iraqi Army raided numerous Mahdi Army weapons caches in Sadr City May 22-23, Multinational Forces Iraq reported. The Mahdi Army has stockpiled weapons throughout the district. Eight of the armor piercing, Iranian-made explosively formed projectiles have been found along with chlorine poison, eight roadside bombs, and large quantities of explosives, weapons, ammunition, and materials used to make bombs.
Iraqi troops raided a school in Sadr City on May 23 and uncovered a substantial weapons cache. "Two bottles of chlorine poison" were found amongst a remote-controlled improvised explosive device, six 155 mm artillery rounds, an artillery warhead, five grenades, two PKC light machine guns and 450 rounds of PKC ammunition, a Katusha rocket launcher, and radios used to remotely detonate roadside bombs.
The largest cache was found by Iraqi soldiers on May 22. The cache consisted of "one explosively formed projectile; one homemade mine; more than 2000 7.62 mm rounds; 393 5.56 mm rounds; one 80 mm rocket-propelled grenade; RPG launchers, warheads and tails; one cannon ball; grenades; spools of wire; blasting caps; AK- 47 rifles; AK-47 and M-16 magazines; two body armor vests; a Kevlar helmet; two radios; and other assorted military equipment."
Another significant cache seized by Iraqi troops on May 22 contained "seven explosively formed projectiles, five 60 mm mortar rounds, more than a dozen RPGs, hand grenades, a mortar sight, a BKC machine gun and 1,200 BKC rounds, a Kalashnikov rifle and five Kalashnikov magazines, igniters, indicators, command wire, charges, detonators, eight radios and four battery chargers." A host of smaller caches were found and destroyed.
There has been no fighting reported in Sadr City over the past several days as the Iraqi Army takes up positions in strategic areas around Sadr City. On May 23. the Sadrist movement claimed the Iraqi Army is violating the truce and assaulting and mistreating Iraqis during clearing operations in Sadr City. The Associated Press repeated the claims of Mohannad al Gharawi, who is portrayed as a neutral person sent to Sadr City to monitor the truce. But Gharawi is in fact a senior member of the Sadrist movement.
Raids continue outside Sadr City
As the Iraqi security forces continue to work to secure Sadr City, US and Iraqi forces are pressuring the Mahdi Army in greater Baghdad and beyond. The Sadrist movement has accused the Iraqi military of rounding up more than 400 people during raids in the Amil and Bayaa neighborhoods in southwestern Baghdad.
fyi
.. the Iraqi Army is uncovering substantial weapons caches in the Mahdi Army stronghold.
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depends on what the definition of “substantial” is. ;-)
Iraqi Army Push Into Sadr City & Find Lots Of Goodies
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In addition to the weapons they have captured insurgents, one with a Iranian passport:
Iraqi National Police detained four Mahdi Army fighters in New Baghdad on May 22 and uncovered a weapons cache. A brother of one of the detainees possessed an Iranian passport. On May 23, US troops killed five Mahdi Army fighters in the Shawra area of New Baghdad.
~~~Outside of Baghdad, US and Iraqi troops captured five Mahdi Army operatives. Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured a Special Groups financier and weapons smuggler in Az Zubayr, just north of Basrah on May 21. The operative smuggled weapons from Iran into Iraq.
Coalition Special Operations Forces captured four Special Groups operatives in Rashadiyah on May 23. The target was a “Special Groups weapons smuggler accused of bringing explosively-formed penetrators, rockets and other weapons into Diyala Province from Iran” who was also “responsible for multiple attacks on Iraqi Security and Coalition forces using EFPs, rocket-propelled grenades and sniper fire in the Husayniyah area.”
Obama still want to sit down with the Iranians? Yes he does.
The BlameStreamMedia, DemoncRATS, MoveOn.org, A.N.S.W.E.R., S.D.S., CPUSA, and Hollyweird are deeply saddened.
Your related thread:
Lawmakers loyal to al-Sadr denounce Iraqi gov't ("black clouds" on the horizon for truces)
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BAGHDAD - Lawmakers loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr accused the Iraqi government of trying to crush the movement and warned Saturday of "black clouds" on the horizon for truces that have eased fighting between al-Sadr's militia and security forces.
The Sadrist Movement has heightened its rhetoric against the government in recent days, raising concerns over the cease-fires in the southern city of Basra and Baghdad's Sadr City district, the stronghold of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia.
Still, the lawmakers and other al-Sadr officials said they are adhering to the truces. The cease-fires are crucial to Iraqi security forces' sweeps in Basra and Sadr City, launched by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to show his government can spread its authority in areas long dominated by armed groups like al-Sadr's.
The new tensions were sparked when Iraqi troops in Basra attempted to break up a gathering in a northern square by firing over the heads of al-Sadr followers congregating for Friday prayers. Iraqi authorities recently banned al-Sadr gatherings in the square after a large cache of weapons was found nearby, police officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation.
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Iraqi police officers display weapons and explosives discovered during a recent raid on a village just east of Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, May 21, 2008. (AP Photo/ Ahmed Alhussainey)
They have been far kinder than I would have in dealing with this. Fuel Air Explosives for Urban Renewal.
I know things are turning our way because so little is being reported.
Cannon ball?
Holy crap! Look at all the mortar rounds!
Just what were they planning on doing with that, I just have to ask.
Great minds. At least two of us actually read the article, which is getting to be a rare talent here.
Words fail me. What right to a truce does a treasonous army of rebellion have against the forces of its own legitimate government? Tell me if I am missing something, but I don't think the Geneva convention applies to traitors against one's own government. I suppose there is an element within the fifth column of the communist international to whom this claim will gain some sympathy and who will be willing to broadcast it in newspaper headlines around the world as if the rest of us are supposed to have any sympathy for the traitorous murderous fanatics who civilize folks chose to continue to let breathe.
“Iraqi troops raided a school in Sadr City on May 23 and uncovered a substantial weapons cache. “Two bottles of chlorine poison” were found amongst a remote-controlled improvised explosive device”
Storing chemical weapons in schools. I bet the MSM will be all over this.
/s
**********************SandRat reports:*****************
ISF, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers seize multiple munitions caches in southern Baghdad
We have to stop letting these guys walk when they start losing a battle. They just start it up again when what's his name gives the word, safely tucked away with Imawacinjob in Teheran.
They were just collectors..
Watched the hearings yesterday...and there seem to be serious efforts to shut down the borders with Iran and SYRIA....
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