Do we see the real major combat operations in Iraq in the near future?

[Klaus]

German Tagesschau reported today that US troops tried to get to the Office of Muktada el Sadr (al-Shula, part of Baghdad),a radical Shiite. El Sadrs (illegal!) troops defended the office or their leader.

Two Apache helicopters launched an air strike targeting his Office.
Result: some dead Iraqis, some destroyed buildings and a burning car from the US military.

At least nine coalition soldiers and 46 Iraqis have been killed in confrontations related to the protests.
(BBC Source )
Tagesschau reports 20 (according to El-Schawader Hospital) to 100 (according to Other M.D.s) dead persons and at least 8 dead US soldiers and 24 injured soldiers.

El Sadrs said that the iraqi people should terrorize ocupying troops.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's leading Shia cleric (he was able to organize protests with 30.000 Iraqis), appealed for calm and negotiations on Sunday as a call to "terrorise the enemy" circulated among Moqtada al-Sadr's followers.

In Falluja the resistance against the US troops continues. Tagesschau reported that al-jazeera isn't allowed to enter Falluja or videotape that area anymore. Huge numbers of US soldiers have surrounded the city.
They don't let Civilists or al-jazeera reporters enter or leave the city for the next days.
Fighting and Bombing was reported at 4:00am (for 1 1/2 hours)

There were also reports of fightings in Najaf with approx. 20 dead iraqis and hundreds injured iraqis and 2 dead ocupation soldiers (one Spanish, one US).

In Mosul there was a bomb blast yesturday.

In Nadschaf 20 of the 5000 Iraqis who were protesting against the imprisoning of Sheik Mustafa el Jakubi were killed.
Approx. 200 were wounded.

In Basra the Govenors building was stormed by the "Mahdi Army".

The Shiites are aprox. 60% of the Iraqi population and have 13 out of 25 seats (approx. 52%) in the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council.

 

[verte76]

This is war. Damn. I'm really scared that this could get uglier and deadlier. I don't like this at all.

 

[nbcrusader]

Taking out Muqtada al-Sadr will inflame the situation for the short term, but may create more stability in the long term

Arrest warrant issued for Shiite cleric

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The radical Shiite cleric whose supporters rioted over the weekend ? leaving at least 52 Iraqis, eight U.S. troops and one Salvadoran soldier dead ? has had an outstanding arrest warrant on murder charges for several months, a U.S. spokesman said Monday.

 

[Rono]

Let`s make a big Israel,...

 

[Klaus]

nbcrusader:

Muktada el Sadrs father Grandayatollah Mohammad Sadek el Sadr was imprisoned by S. Hussein, let's hope Muktada el Sadrs followers don't profit from the arrest-situation.

Klaus

 

[Salome]

Taking out Muqtada al-Sadr will inflame the situation for the short term, but may create more stability in the long term

I hope no one is letting what "may" happen influence their policies on issues like this though

 

[Klaus]

According to Tagesschau al-Jazeera reports that approx. 20.000 soldiers(marines?) are sealing off Falluja from Iraq because the marines want to capture the people who killed and mutilated the US security advisers.

An al-jazeera interview with a Taxi driver from Falluja:
"The Falluja economy is dependant for goods and services on the agricultural and industrial towns and cities in the region. Today, vegetables and food could not be brought into the town. People who work outside Falluja could not go to work," he said.

"Even Falluja's main hospital is inaccessible because it is located out of the city across the Euphrates river, and the bridge is closed. Today I saw an ambulance driver negotiating with US soldiers to let him cross the bridge. They let him through after a long and tiresome argument."

 

[Amna]

The frusturating part is..... there is way to much conspiracy and miscommunication.....

The scariest part is yet to come.