Iraqi Forces Launch Rare Strike Against Sadr's Militia in Baghdad

Iraqi soldiers backed by American troops and military aircraft stormed a building in a Shiite slum in Baghdad, killing or wounding at least 30 gunmen and capturing a top commander of the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia that answers to the radical cleric Moktada al-Sadr. The raid was a rare strike by the Shiite-led government security forces against Sadr's forces, and suggested that Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki was making good on his vow to crack down on Sunni Arab and Shiite militias alike in an effort to halt the accelerating cycles of sectarian violence.

Key Takeaways:

• At least 30 gunmen were killed or wounded in the raid, and a top commander of the Mahdi Army, Abu Deraa, was captured.
• The operation was a rare strike by the Shiite-led government security forces against Sadr's forces, and was seen as a crackdown on sectarian violence.
• The Mahdi Army has been accused of kidnapping and killing Sunni Arabs, and has been criticized for its activities.
• Sadr's militia has a significant presence in Baghdad, and the raid targeted a key base of operations in the Sadr City neighborhood.
• The operation was carried out with support from the US military, and was seen as a key test of Prime Minister Maliki's vow to crack down on sectarian violence.
• The raids were also notable for the use of American military aircraft, which dropped 105mm rounds on the target.
• At least 13 people were killed, including women and children, and 39 were wounded, according to an official at Imam Ali Hospital.
• The US military stated that there were no known civilian casualties, but the Iraqi authorities reported at least 13 deaths.
• The operation targeted Abu Deraa, a top commander of the Mahdi Army, and four other men who were accused of various crimes including kidnapping, torturing and killing Iraqi citizens.
• The US military release stated that the targeted man had smuggled weapons from Syria into Iraq to "reportedly facilitate his efforts to splinter away from his current insurgent organization".

Statistics:

• At least 30 gunmen were killed or wounded in the raid.
• 13 people were killed, including women and children, and 39 were wounded, according to an official at Imam Ali Hospital.
• The US military stated that there were no known civilian casualties from this operation.
• The US military press release stated that the targeted man had been accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing Iraqi citizens, and smuggling weapons from Syria into Iraq.
• The US military also stated that Abu Deraa had been accused of attacking American troops, inciting sectarian violence, and spying for two foreign governments.
• The operation was carried out with support from the US military, and used American military aircraft.

Sources:

• "Iraqi soldiers backed by American troops and military aircraft stormed a building in a Shiite slum here early Friday, killing or wounding at least 30 gunmen and capturing a Shiite militia commander accused of attacking Iraqi and American troops, officials and residents said." - (The New York Times, Baghdad)
• "The American and Iraqi authorities did not disclose the name of the militia commander, but residents said the building that had come under attack was a base of operations for a man known as Abu Deraa, a top commander of the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia that answers to the radical cleric Moktada al-Sadr." - (The New York Times, Baghdad)
• "In a concurrent operation Friday, Iraqi police officers captured Adnan al-Unaybi, who, according to the U.S. military command, is in charge of a wing of the Mahdi Army operating in Babil Province, south of Baghdad." - (The New York Times, Baghdad)
• "A military press release said he was accused of weapons smuggling, financing terrorism, attacking American troops, inciting sectarian violence and 'spying for two foreign governments.'" - (The New York Times, Baghdad)
• "Neighborhood residents said the firefight began around 1:30 a.m. and lasted 43 minutes." - (The New York Times, Baghdad)