US forces clash with Iraqi militia

[bigtree]

Fri Jul 7, 2006 7:21 AM BST162
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2006-07-07T063022Z_01_COL718519_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAQ-CLASHES.xml&src=rss

BAGHDAD, July 7 - Up to nine people were killed in clashes between U.S. troops and the Mehdi Army militia of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in eastern Baghdad early on Friday, police and witnesses said.

An Interior Ministry source said the clashes erupted when U.S. forces raided houses in the slum district of Sadr City, a stronghold, of Sadr's Mehdi Army. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. military.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2006-07-07T063022Z_01_COL718519_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAQ-CLASHES.xml&src=rss


(Updates with U.S. statement)

BAGHDAD, July 7 -
An Interior Ministry source said the clashes erupted when U.S. forces backed by helicopters raided houses in the slum district of Sadr City, a stronghold, of Sadr's Mehdi Army at 2 a.m. (2200 GMT).

The source, who did not want to be named, said nine people were killed and 31 wounded. Four houses were also destroyed.

A police source put the death toll at seven and said the casualties were all militiamen.

The U.S. military said in a statement the raid had been by Iraqi soldiers, aimed at capturing an insurgent leader responsible for numerous deaths.

"The forces were immediately engaged by insurgents and a firefight ensued," the military said in a statement, adding that no Iraqi or U.S. troops had been wounded or killed in the operation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060707/ts_nm/iraq_clashes_dc;_ylt=A0SOwj5mBq5EKGcAyRBZ.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[bigtree]

1. militiamen are now 'insurgents'

[Erika]

2. and why are we there? n/t

[ConsAreLiars]

3. I saw "The Diary of Anne Frank" and every glowing Corporate Media

report on house raids by the invaders reminds me of that story. When did the US soldiers get turned into Nazis?

[Swamp Rat]

4. Militia, insurgents, Muslims, Iraqi children, terrorists, old women...

all the same thing.

[Selatius]

5. Sadr City is Muqtada Al-Sadr's city, it is foolish to enter that city

There has been relative quiet between the Mehdi Army and US forces precisely because the US stopped attacking and invading their space, but it appears we once again walked into their neighborhoods.