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U.S.-Iraqi forces do battle with Mahdi Army

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, April 9, 2007

BAGHDAD — U.S. and Iraqi forces launched an operation against the Iranian-sponsored Mahdi Army on April 6.

The Iraq Army and U.S. combat forces conducted the operation against Mahdi fighters in the Diwaniya province, about 180 kilometers south of Baghdad. Officials said the fighting took place in several towns in the province, and several people were killed.

The U.S.-led coalition said Operation Black Eagle was designed to impose order in Diwaniya, Middle East Newsline reported. The statement said the Iraq Army deployed the Eighth Battalion in the operation.

"Iraqi army soldiers swept into the city of Diwaniya early this morning to disrupt militia activity and return security and stability of the volatile city back to the government of Iraq," the U.S. military said on April 6.

The Mahdi Army acknowledged the battle and said a U.S. main battle tank and several Humvee combat vehicles were destroyed. Mahdi said three militia fighters were injured.

Diwaniya has been regarded as a stronghold of the Mahdi Army. In August 2006, 13 Iraqi soldiers were captured and executed during a battle with Mahdi.

Mahdi was said to have been detonating Iranian-produced explosively-formed projectiles against U.S. combat vehicles. On April 6, a U.S. soldier was killed and four others were injured in an EFP attack in Baghdad.

On Saturday, U.S. fighter-jets joined the battle and attacked Mahdi fighters in Diwaniya. Mahdi said three U.S. combat vehicles were destroyed, and a robot to detect improvised explosive devices was seized. The Shi'ites were said to have fired Soviet-origin Katyusha rockets toward the U.S. troops.

"Fighting was less steady than yesterday's actions," U.S. military spokesman Maj. Eric Verzola said on Saturday. "Our assessment is that our operations are being effective."


Copyright © 2007 East West Services, Inc.

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