Western forces 'in Basra raids'

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Page last updated at 19:40 GMT, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 20:40 UK

Western forces 'in Basra raids'

US and UK special forces are carrying out operations in Basra
in southern Iraq against Shia militiamen, a Western military
source has told the BBC.

The aim is to detain senior figures in the Mehdi Army and
other Shia militias, and members of a local tribe.

Iraqi forces now have a presence throughout the city, local
reports say. Fighting is continuing in Shia areas of Baghdad.
The US military said it had killed five suspected militiamen
overnight in the district of Sadr City.

-snip-

Intelligence gathering

The intervention of Western special forces in Basra shows
the level of concern the Americans and British have about
the capabilities of the Iraqi forces, says the BBC's Crispin
Thorold in Baghdad.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7360875.stm

[sabra]

1. US had a marine fatality in Basra yesterday - a first (at-least in a very long time)

[Deja Q]

2. And when they find nothing in the Basras, will they follow up with Panty raids?

[bemildred]

3. Five US troops killed in Iraq

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Two marines were killed and three others wounded when a bomber slammed his explosives-laden car into a checkpoint near the western Iraqi city of Ramadi at around 7:30 am (0430 GMT), the military said.

Two Iraqi policemen and 24 civilians were also wounded in the attack near the city, the capital of Anbar province, which was once the symbol of Sunni Arab insurgency against US forces.

A third marine was killed and another wounded in a separate roadside bomb attack in Basra on Monday, the military said in a separate statement.

This is the first US military loss in Basra since Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki launched a crackdown against Shiite militiamen there on March 25.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hp-HT2iDhn8Lbom45Y2eiBfxTmMQ