Mahdi Army // Current

Thousands march in Baghdad against U.S. pact

Saturday, Oct 18, 2008 Thousands of followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Saturday in a... more

bansheewail
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Alive in Baghdad: In May '08 Iraqi troops entered Sadr City after weeks of fighting. What did they find?

Courtesy of www.aliveinbaghdad.org. Alive in Baghdad employs Iraqi journalists to produce video packages each week about a variety of topics on daily life in Iraq.

Iraq, Baghdad/Sadr City – since the last few years Sadr City was the center of many battles between the Mahdi Army and the US military. Many homes, shops, and other buildings were destroyed in the first battles there in 2005, the conflict took place between the US forces and the Mahdi Army after a statement was released by Muqtada Al-Sadr commanding his followers to fight the “occupation forces” in order to liberate Iraq from the US
forces.

Another conflict took place in the year 2006 in Najaf were the Iraqi National Guard was fighting the Mahdi Army’s militias. The US forces assisted the Iraqi National Guard with this battle in Najaf, and this influenced many of Muqtada Al-Sadr’s forces based in Sadr City to fight the US forces and the Iraqi National Guard.

The battle moved from primarily in Najaf to Sadr City, and more than 100 people were killed in the battles in Najaf and Sadr City. At this time, Muqtada Al-Sadr reached an agreement with the Iraqi government to arrange a ceasefire between the Mahdi Army and the US and Iraqi forces in order to stop what many expected to be certainly a bloodbath.

Moqtada released a statement in early 2007 commanding all the Mahdi Army fighters to cease fighting the Iraqi forces and consider them as an equal part of Iraq to those who are loyal to the Mahdi Army and Muqtada Al-Sadr.

There were ongoing minor and sometimes major clashes and operations in Sadr City throughout 2007 and leading up to the Spring of 2008, when a major operation was begun in Sadr City, to eliminate the influence and weapons of suspected Mahdi Army militants. In May 2008 the Iraqi National Guard were finally able to enter Sadr City, pushing deep into the district and taking control of the area. Alive in Baghdad’s newest correspondent Ali Le’abi was with them, and interviewed a number of residents about their experience of the confrontation with US and Iraqi forces.

Alive in Baghdad: In May '08 Iraqi troops entered Sadr City after weeks of fighting. What did they find? Courtesy of... more

Vierotchka
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3 months ago

Sadr Announces Suspension of Mahdi Army "Indefinitely" |

The powerful Shiite cleric, who first announced a ceasefire last summer, says the Mahdi Army will carry out cultural activities... more

goldenways
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3 months ago

Mahdi Army 'stops carrying arms'

A spokesman for Moqtada Sadr says his militia will no longer carry weapons, but he stopped short of declaring an end to violence.... more

merasyad
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4 months ago

Iraqi MPs speak out about occupation

Transcript:
MATTHEW PALEVSKY, JOURNALIST, TRNN: Presidential candidate John McCain has repeatedly warned Americans that withdrawing from Iraq would invite chaos in the Middle East and empower Iran.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (R): If our troops are ordered to make a forced retreat, we risk all-out civil war, genocide, and a failed state in the heart of the Middle East. Al-Qaeda terrorists would rejoice in the defeat of the United States. Allowing a potential terrorist sanctuary would profoundly affect the security of the United States, Israel, and our other friends, and would invite further intervention from Iraq's neighbors, including a very much-emboldened Iran.

I recently sat down with two Iraqi parliamentarians who testified to the contrary in front of the US Congress. I asked Nadim al-Jaberi, former general and current member of Shiite Fadhila Party, what he thought of McCain's statements.

NADIM AL-JABERI, IRAQI MP, FADHILA PARTY (SUBTITLED TRANSLATION): No, I do not agree with McCain's conclusion. I believe that Iran became influential in Iraq due to the American occupation and not the other way around. I would say that if the US is controlling the Iraqi streets, then Iran is controlling the state [government]. Iran had no power in Iraq before its occupation on the 9th of April 2003. But it established its power after that date. Iran will stay as an essential and influential factor in Iraq as long as there are foreign forces present, as it feels that these forces threaten its national security.

PALEVSKY: There is a gap in power that Iran could manipulate to gain control and influence in Iraq. Why wouldn't they take advantage of this?

AL-JABERI: No, I believe that Iran's influence grew due to the presence of the American forces on the Iraqi land. There is no connection with the dismissal of Saddam. The issue is connected to the capabilities of the Iraqi state. I believe that the Iraqi state is capable of protecting its borders from Iran or others. There is a historic competition between the two states. On that basis, there has always been a balance between the two states, and neither can swallow the other. If the American forces withdrew from Iraq, I believe that the majority of the Iraqi nation would stand against any Iranian interference. Maybe some people think that the Shias [population] would be loyal to Iran, but I believe that impression is wrong because most of the Iraqi army that fought against Iran from 1980 to 1988 were Shia. There is no connection between Iraqi and Iranian Shia. There may be a connection among some of the [Iraqi] politicians and Iran, but there is no connection between the Shia sect [in Iraq] and Iran. Only some basic ideology, but no political connection. Interestingly, the political elite that is loyal to Iran are the same people who are supported by the United States.
Transcript: MATTHEW PALEVSKY, JOURNALIST, TRNN: Presidential candidate John McCain has repeatedly warned Americans that... more