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thedrifter
03-27-08, 09:51 AM
Thursday, March 27, 2008

Clashes continue in areas surrounding Sadr City
U.S. blames Mahdi Army rogue elements

By James Warden, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, March 27, 2008

BAGHDAD — Clashes continued Wednesday in areas surrounding the volatile Sadr City section of Baghdad, a day after one American soldier died during fighting between coalition forces and Shiite militants.

Wednesday’s fighting was of “similar intensity,” with U.S. troops backing Iraqi forces. Minor Iraqi casualties were reported, and a rocket attack struck near a U.S. outpost, but no U.S. casualties were reported.

“Our guys took it to them today,” Maj. John Gossart, executive officer of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, said. “[The insurgents] paid a little bit.”

The militants continued the attacks on Iraqi security forces checkpoints and American soldiers as they had on Tuesday in several isolated firefights just outside Sadr City. The Shiite stronghold is off limits to coalition forces despite the self-enforced cease-fire declared by Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Jaysh al Mahdi, or Mahdi Army.

The attackers fought Americans Tuesday with AK-47s, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. It’s not known exactly how the American soldier died, although reports suggest he died of shrapnel wounds from a mortar or RPG.

Insurgents also managed to disable at least one Stryker with a roadside bomb. The vehicle caught on fire, but no one was hurt in that attack, news that brought audible sighs of relief to leaders controlling and monitoring the fights on military radios.

Gossart blamed breakaway factions from al-Sadr’s group for the attacks. These elements, which the military collectively calls “Special Groups,” became more disgruntled when al-Sadr extended his truce for another six months in February.

The military has blamed “Special Groups” for frequent attacks across Iraq, and Sadr City is known to be a haven for them. A large part of operations in this area aims to isolate rogue elements in Sadr City from infiltrating neighboring communities.

Earlier this same week, “Sons of Iraq” security volunteers — civilians armed by U.S. forces — reported people emplacing roadside bombs. Though the volunteer movement began with Sunni groups, in this area they are largely Shiites.

The Americans responded and found two explosively formed projectiles, a lethal type of bomb favored by Shiite militants. American soldiers distributed extra ammunition and AK-47s to the volunteers and watched over the position the following night in case of retaliation.

Al-Sadr had issued clarifying instructions after he extended the truce that allowed Mahdi Army members to defend themselves when attacked. Gossart speculated that some members may be “creatively interpreting these instructions to further their own agenda.”

The Iraqi government’s crackdown in the Shiite-dominated city of Basra also inflamed tensions.

Gossart said the “special groups” don’t represent the Mahdi Army’s mainstream, which he said is more interested in peace. Some Iraqi government officials, on the other hand, think that there is no clear line between the mainstream Mahdi Army and breakaway elements.

Gossart called Tuesday’s violence “more isolated incidents of contact” than a widespread, preplanned battle.

“Our assessment, I think, is that there were some of these special groups guys that were given instructions by their leaders to conduct attacks,” he said, adding that some of the attacks may have been more spontaneous.

Despite the attacks, Gossart said the security situation in the area is still improving, in large part because of the “Sons of Iraq.”

“The SOIs, we’re starting to see them stand and fight,” he said.

American soldiers spent Wednesday circulating between Iraqi security checkpoints to restock their ammunition and reassure local forces that the Americans were here to stay.

“If they want to fight this way, the special groups guys, it’s going to turn out poorly for them,” Gossart said. “The last time we saw the abyss, it did.”

Ellie