Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

U.S. Forces Kill 32 Militants In Baghdad

U.S. soldier in Baghdad's Al-Sadr City (epa)

August 8, 2007 -- The U.S. military says it has killed 32 militants with suspected ties to Iran in Baghdad's mostly Shi'ite neighborhood of Al-Sadr City.

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August 08, 2007

A military statement said the raid involved air support, and targeted fighters who smuggle arms from Iran and facilitate the travel of Iraqi militants to Iran for training.

Twelve suspects also were detained. The U.S. statement came after Iraqi police reported U.S. air strikes had killed nine civilians in Al-Sadr City.

However, a U.S. military spokesman said there were no civilian casualties.

U.S. military officials say more than 70 percent of attacks carried out on U.S. forces in Baghdad in July were done by Shi'ite militias, some trained in Iran.

(AP, Reuters)

Muqtada Al-Sadr

Al-Sadr supporters demonstrating against the U.S. presence in Iraq in October 2006 (epa)

A RADICAL CLERIC. Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is a key figure in Iraq. He heads the Imam Al-Mahdi Army militia and a political bloc that is prominent in parliament and the government. His ties to Iran have also provoked concerns in some quarters.

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