A U.S. warplane strafed snipers in the southern city of Basra, killing at least 16 suspected militants after Iraqi troops came under heavy fire, the American military said... An AC-130 gunship then opened fire on enemy positions on three roofs.
That's gonna leave a mark.
Posts
5 comments:
Body count:
134 Mahdi Army fighters were killed, 81 were wounded, 98 were captured, and 30 surrendered during the past 36 hours.
Since the fighting began on Tuesday 347 Mahdi Army fighters were killed, 531 were wounded, 343 were captured, and 30 surrendered. The US and Iraqi security forces have killed 125 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad alone, while Iraqi security forces have killed 140 Mahdi fighters in Basra.
While the size of the Mahdi Army is a constant source of debate, media accounts often put the Mahdi Army at anywhere from 40,000 to 60,000 fighters. With an estimated 1,000 Mahdi fighters killed, captured, wounded and surrendered, the Mahdi Army has taken an attrition rate of 1.5 to 2.5 percent over the past five days.
Pepe, get out the hankies.
Update: Al-Sadr also called on the government to stop what he calls haphazard raids and release security detainees who haven't been charged. Quick, Pepe, call the ACLU!
Looks like the Sadrmite is chickening out. What would Qom say?
Yes, I caught that Sadr backed down for some reason as well. He certainly has influence, but it's difficult to say if he backed down for fear that his entire faction would fraction?
He's the shiite George B McClellan, methinks.
Post a Comment