US says five Iran-backed insurgents killed near Iraq border

[sabra]

Source: AFP

BAGHDAD — The US military on Friday said five insurgents from an "Iranian-backed terrorist organisation" were killed in a shootout in an Iraqi-led anti-smuggling operation southeast of Baghdad.

"Suspected Kataeb Hezbollah terrorists were killed in the operation" overnight, a US army statement said, at Ali ash-Sharqi, a village near the Iranian border and 265 kilometres (165 miles) from the Iraqi capital.

"While the number of casualties has not yet been confirmed, initial reports indicate five individuals were killed."

A security official in Amara, the capital of Maysan province, where the incident took place, said seven people had been killed and two others wounded in an exchange of fire involving American forces.

Intelligence information led "Iraqi security forces and US advisers to the village ... in search of known weapons cache sites," the US statement said.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h8K_qlBGJQ4MwXUYlU22ZJJ0H6pg

[Tempest]

1. So were they Iranian backed, or were they suspected?

Amazing how quickly the military can contradict itself.

[Wilms]

2. We should nuke Iran to send a message.

:sarcasm:

[dipsydoodle]

3. Were they wearing baseball caps

with I Luv Persia on them ?

[yava]

4. why do we care?

that some such guys (whoever they may be) were killed on Iraq-Iran border?
Doesn't the world (inside and outside the USA) have more urgent problems?
Examples: the death of democracy, homeless people in the millions, tens of millions out of job, sick people without care, Haiti's 200000 victims, hungry civil war victims in Africa, global warming and the death of polar bears and other species.

[proteus_lives]

5. Not surprising.

Iran will always be interested in influencing and controlling events in Iraq.

Dollars to donuts they support groups to create a Shia rump state.